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The photo of Belhams bus in the 1950's, in the photo gallery, took me back to my childhood instantly. Saturday rides to Wolverton or Northampton for the family shopping, weekdays mother would sometimes go into Wolverton when any extras were needed. The dark blue livery was distinctive and was always smartly turned out, it ran the services into the towns for many years.

Many thanks for adding such wonderfull nostalga to the site.

The photo of "Belhams bus in the 50's" that I have commented on above, I am wondering what lane it was stood in to take this photo? It hasn't been snapped plying it's route, more like it has had a polishing and a shine, then stood out in a lane for the camera. 60 years ago is a strain on the memory and I don't recognize the backdrop at all well. I'm guessing it is down `Green End Farms's' lane, down past our primary school, this would be close by. Another similar lane is much further from Belhams depo, that is down Pindon End, near the railway bridge (where we often collected `train numbers' from the steam loco's, ( With Keith Tebbut, Authur Greaves, David Tailor, Micheal Webster, my sister and I, plus a few more on ocasion!). Most likely it is `Green End Farm's' lane, as it only a hundred yards away from the depot. I'm sure Mr Belham had two busses, the one in the photo was used for excursions and other bookings, the other was a smaller one (Bedford Duple?) used for daily trips into Wolverton, via Tathall End, Hanslope Park and Wolverton Station. Also into Northampton, via Hartwell, Road and a couple of other villages on Market days. I regularly rode on these busses of Belhams. United Counties also ran a regular route through the village from Northampton to Wolverton for workmen working in Wolverton in the railway works (C&W Works Wolverton) or McCorquodale Printers, with a return trip after work. But Belhams Busses were the mainstay, supported by Wesley's taxi service. One of Wesley's taxis was a '20's Rolls Limo, in Lemon and Black (Traditional!!) and in this car my mother and I were driven to Northampton General and returned when I had tonsilitus at about seven years old (1948).

These were the days when owning a family motor vehicle was quite unusual, around 1950, Hanslopes villagers had three or four cars and as many motor cycles, so unusual it was to see a motor vehicles passing, that it was quite common for us children to collect `car numbers', such was the interest, that there were several small books published concerning the registration areas identified with a number plate. Steam loco numbers also had similar publications too, most children who were such collectors, did both and had all the available booklets too. Anyone remember the I-Spy series of books? Somehow, dispite the austerity of those times, I cannot help but feel, that my generation had a better childhood than our more recent generations have had.