After a largely uneventful 5 years of retirement – featuring a lot of dog walking, Popmaster, Countdown, crosswords and a fair amount of pointless pottering, I noticed that Discover Buxton Tours needed new tram drivers so I threw my hat in. All the drivers wear bowler hats and waistcoats of Derbyshire tartan.. The tartan is created by Fiona and Lesley Trotter and is by way of a thank you to their adopted county. Green represents the countryside, red signifies the industrial heritage including Midland Railway and Derwent Valley Mills, black is the coal and lead mining, purple is inspired by the Blue John minerals and heather, white is the limestone quarries and yellow is the Tudor rose emblem which has been the county badge since the 1470s.
There followed a rigorous interview and an even more exacting process in order to qualify as a taxi driver (endorsed by City and Guilds and validated by High Peak Council), and also some Silverstone style tram driving practice. Pedestrians wave, wagons give way, and on we go around our wonderful town. Lewis Hamilton could not drive the electric cow with more speed or style.
.
And so my standard 60 something bloke attire was transformed by a Derbyshire Tartan Waistcoat and a stylish bowler hat, described above.
I was ready for the starting grid.
However the virus had other ideas and my debut scheduled for March 30th has been indefinitely postponed.
I was raring to go, enthused by my script and my deepening understanding of Buxton’s History.
We are on hold, poised to resume.
Whilst getting ready for this fascinating role, I have learnt that:-
Buxton is both celebrated and unsung – a true hilltop resort with a history unmatched by similar towns- yet a huge surprise to most first time visitors.
It’s easy to spot the visitors. They’re looking up at our great Crescent, beyond the hoardings, with mouths open.In fact when we see you again the hoardings will be gone allowing us once again to see this marvellous building in all its restored splendour.
Buxton is everything in one place. Edwardian splendour, Georgian beauty, Celts and Romans, Theatre, Church, Mary and Joseph (Queen and Paxton), Crescent and Dome, and of course, Water.
The more I find out, the more I cannot wait for the adventure to begin.
See you soon!
Chris . Tram Driver in Waiting, Discover Buxton Tours