BUS driver Mike Harwood, and his brother-in-law, Dennis Fairchild, who both live at Buckland Monachorum, took to the streets of Plymouth recently in a classic double-decker.

The two men, members of the Plymouth City Transport Preservation Group, were given the opportunity to spend five evenings in July in Plymouth conveying people from the Mayflower Steps to the Royal William Yard — some travelling by boat and some by bus — and back again at the end of the evening on one of the group's buses, a double decker 1960 Leyland Atlantean 137, the oldest bus in the group.

The evenings were part of The World At Your Feet, Plymouth's contribution to the London 2012 arts celebration, the Cultural Olympiad. This also took place earlier in July when the bus was driven by Ralph Delbridge, who owns it and is chairman of the preservation group.

Mike and Den had a full bus on each of the five evenings and, while Mike thoroughly enjoyed the driving, Den was the perfect host. The two were invited to join in the performance on the last night which was an entertaining experience.

The preservation group was formed in July 2006 and aims to preserve the history of Plymouth City Transport. There are regular member tours and trips as well as attendance at local shows and events.