My name is Bethan and I am 11 years old. I am a big fan of the Routemaster Bus and like to look at this forum a lot as it makes me laugh sometimes, it's a bit like the playground sometimes when people start arguing about odd stuff.

I am very lucky because I get to ride on a Rml routemaster quite often, called Bulgy who's very fast,and is a long way away in London at the moment being painted. I think that it is cool that people take such a big interest in Routemasters, as I love London and love the buses there. I however don't like bendy buses, because they are dangerous and kill bike riders. Routemasters are more orginal.

I like drawing Routemasters, and if I am allowed to, I would like to post one of my pictures on here. Then I am going to write a story a bit like Thomous the tank engine. I have several ideas for character names and their personalities already, but everyone is welcome to make suggestions or comments on it if they want to. I think that since all of the people on the forum like Routmasters, it would be quite fun to make a story about them!

Here are some character names:
Bulgy - a lovely bus BUT he does tell lies! (rml)
Ronald Routemaster- Main character.- rml
Bradley bendy bus- a naughty bus that they don't like because he lets people on without paying.
George the green country bus- fast rm
Rick the repair bus- cheerful rml
Penny the Parts Routemaster - pretty rm
The setting is based in Camberwell station.

But this is only a rough idea. I am hoping that I might have a bit of help from the Routemaster bus forum people, to make it really good.


Thank you very much!
from beth3238

p.s. I think RM5 is really pretty even if there are lots of things wrong with it. It doesn't matter I think it is a lovely bus- like mine! All Routemasters are cool.

at last somone younger then me has loves the old girls i thought i be at 27 but i have been beaten like arsenal

welcome to the house of fun young lady

Sorry to disappoint you Beth, but I reckon my son Josh is the youngest member at 2 years and 3 months. He loves riding on my bus, and has now learned to say "routemaster!".

Its a good idea to write a story about your favourite buses, I'm sure we would all love to read it first on here when you have thought of some nice adventures for your characters. One day we might see your books for sale in the shops!

It's nice that you are interested in these old buses, we need more young people like you to take an interest so you can look after these lovely vehicles when everyone else has got really old.

Keep us posted on your stories, and don't take too much notice of some of the arguments on here sometimes, its just because sometimes people want the buses to look a certain way. It would be nice for you to do some pictures and post them here, everyone would love to see them.

Thanks for telling us about how much you like our favourite buses.

thats fab steve mate

i was that like with my mum and stuff when i was his age

The youngest member of the Routemaster Association with his own membership number is Dez at 9 years old.

regards

David
Membership Secretary

James.

Thanks very much for your response, I thought no-body was going to answer!
I think once upon a time you were the conductor on our bus.


Steve.

Thank you very much for taking an interest in my mini project, and taking the time to answer me. I wasn't expecting many reaplies, and I am really pleased with the ones I got including yours!

Can I mention RM531 in my story please?

My older sister's friends want to use the routemaster for the transport for their school prom, because they all think that it is really cool!


David.
I am going to join the Routemaster association and mabye I will be your youngest girl member!
I know there is a magazine, do you think that my story, or any of my drawings could go in there, because I am very keen or, should I post it on here instead?


Thanks all!
Beth.

Hi Beth

When you join the Routemaster Association, you could send your stories to Magazine Editor Leon Daniels who is always on the look-out for fresh material. Also, I'm sure Alan could ask George Watson if he could send you a copy of his "Rodney the Routemaster Comes to Town" book to give you a few pointers on how to write successful stories about our icons.

P.S. Beth, as you will probably have already noticed, some of us have already given our Routemasters names, my old girl, RML2271 is called Roxy, Brian Jenning's RML2302 is affectionately known as The Rocket, and Graham Meadow's RML2515 is called Ruby. Roxy, The Rocket & Ruby were all stablemates at Camberwell Garage and ran on the 12 before Mr "Dehumanised Moron" Livingstone replaced them with Bradley and his "Chariots of Fire" Bendy Bus friends.

you could have Bradley as the villain, not only letting passengers on without paying, but also chasing down terrified cyclists with flames shooting out of his engine compartment.

Best of luck with your stories Beth as you have some very promising ideas, hope my suggestions help.

Howabout who's the oldest member/routemaster fan. Just for fun everybody no porky pies or you might be sent to the back of the class by teacher. Haha, everyone!!

Indeed Beth you are not the youngest person here ....

We have the occasional 'youths' throw their toys out the pram on occasions when debate get heated, probably because so many love Routemasters like you their dedication to them is sometimes thrown into question.

Fortunately this situation is under control now with the requirement to 'login' and generally use a name in the message headers..

i so have beth when i was 19 years old

Sorry about that, pressed the wrong button.

Ronan acquired RM 912 for his eighth birthday and was, at one time, the youngest member of RMOOA although like me he is no longer a member. He named RM 912 Bessie because she carries a BESI bracket. Our RML; 2455, a country bus is called Mona after Mona Blackman, the last conductor at Garston Garage, long since retired but as far as I know still with us, delivering leaflets around the Watford area, whilst wearing her old uniform. You are more than welcome to use our buses in your stories. Mona was a wonderful old maitriarch and there were times when she chased passengers who had overidden their stage into Woolworths in North Watford to issue them with an excess fare.

My 15 month daughter is named Scarlett which is as close to the name Red as I thought I could get away with, being a combination of the LT bus colour and Manchester United (I come from West London, like most United supporters. At least I'm closer now I live in Chesterfield). It is also the name my wife uses for my RML. I hope one day Scarlett progresses from "the wheels on the bus" to taking over keeping my RML on the road. My older children having already being conditioned to ridicule their dads odd interest probably won't.

We do encourage an interest locally by offering to take her (the Bus not Scarlett) to events and she always attracts children over the Chesterfield and more modern buses. We also encourage children (and parents) to look around rather than banning people from boarding (and I'm not trying to stir up a debate here).

David

Hi Bethan ,
Hope you will continue to enjoy the routemaster forum and continue to post on here .
On the subject of Routemaster names my RML2391 goes under the name of "Rustie" !

Mark RML2391