Hi,

First time on here. Some of my earliest childhood memories, around
1966 - 1970, are of bus trips into Bournemouth on the 3 or 4 with my
grandad (we lived in Ashley Road, Parkstone). We would go to Fortes
for a milk shake, walk in the Gardens, maybe visit Bobby's
Department Store or, in the summer go to the beach. But I was always
fascinated by the Bus Station while waiting for the bus home. Loved
watching all the buses parking in the centre of the upper area and
the drivers (or conductors?) winding round the destinations on the
front. Also remember the waiting rooms with the circular leather
seats around the pillars and the circular windows outside which
looked down onto the gardens. I also remember a particularly pretty
conductress who used to give me rolls of tickets for my toy ticket
machine!!

Even though I haven't lived in Poole/Bournemouth for many years, it
was very sad news to hear of the bus station's demise. But maybe its
loss is what gives it its special charm....




--- In bournemouthbusstation@..., carpetcrawl99
<no_reply@y...> wrote:
>
> OK, let's tap into the memory banks here. What are members'
earliest
> memories of Bournemouth's venerable bus station? And which memory
> creates the warmest glow of recollection?
>
> For me (born in Bournemouth 1963) it would have to be boarding a
> Royal Blue MW coach in the Stygian, diesel fume laden gloom of the
> coach station, with my mother and two older brothers, about to
embark
> on the five-hour trip to Teignmouth to begin our summer holidays
in
> July 1967. I clearly remember the roar of the engine starting up
in
> that confined space and the terrifying noise as it emerged into
> bright sunlight and laboured up the hill adjoining the bus
station.
> Also the dusty car park at the half-hour Bridport break.
>
> And the happiest? August 1975, a day trip from Worthing aboard a
> Southdown Leopard, the whole day spent in and around the station
and
> the Square, among the poppy reds, the last remaining Tilling
greens,
> and the yellows of the Corporation.
>
> Over to you!