8:10pm Sunday 22nd November 2009
By Emma Streatfield
A COUPLE of Swindon bus drivers were chuffed with the guest of honour at their wedding – a vintage 1960s bus.
Long-term Thamesdown Transport drivers Pete Johns and Fran Groat used an old-fashioned 1967 Swindon Corporation bus to ferry them to and from Swindon’s register office in Temple Street on Saturday.
The couple, of Archer Close, Stratton, felt it was only appropriate that they celebrate tying the knot accompanied by a symbol of what brought them together.
Ms Groat, 54, now Mrs Johns, said: “I’m not a bus anorak, but it’s got to be hasn’t it? Two bus drivers, you have got to have an old bus.
“I’m so sad I’ve got a tattoo of a bus on my shoulder.”
Mr Johns said: “Fran’s daughters said to us ‘you are both bus drivers, you are getting married, you have got to have a bus’.
“I thought it was a bit corny at the time, but I came around to the idea.”
Both Ms Groat and Mr Johns had been in long-term relationships in the past when they met. Ms Groat, who has two daughters from a previous marriage, joined Thamesdown 10 years ago and Mr John joined three years later.
They got talking partly due to Ms Groat’s role as the union representative at the time. The couple got together during the Swindon snow problems last February.
When Mr John’s car broke down and he could not get to work, his future wife helped him out because she had AA breakdown cover.
It was when the couple were ferrying people to and from Swindon’s Radio One Big Weekend in May that Thamesdown Transport’s managing director Paul Jenkins agreed to their request for free use of the old bus.
The bride wore a white, burgundy and silver Chinese-style dress.
Ms Groat said: “When I told my two girls they thought it was cool and my brother’s son, who was a page boy, was is absolutely ecstatic.
“I just think it fits in with what we both do for a living.”
The bus was one of two from the 1960s and 1970s Thamesdown Transport keeps for special occasions.
The Swindon Corporation ultimately became Thamesdown Transport. The bus was in use for around 15 years before it was put out of service, but was kept as an example of how buses used to be.
Mr Jenkins said: “We bring them out from time to time for special events and occasions so when two members of staff get married it’s nice occasion to bring it out. We wish Pete and Fran every happiness. We’re pleased to help out – it helps mark the occasion with something different.”
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