THE hunt is on to find the longest-serving busman or woman still around from the old Bolton Corporation Transport Department.

The Museum of Transport in Cheetham, Manchester, wishes to invite the longest-serving former employee to be guest of honour at a birthday celebration to mark the centenary of the town's corporation transport department.

The Museum in Boyle Street will host a busman's holiday of events on Saturday and Sunday, May 8 and 9, 1999. Spokesman Paul Williams said: "The bus industry is full of people who have worked for perhaps 40 years for the same employer. We're sure there are people living in Bolton who remember driving trams in the town, or who joined as wartime 'clippies'. We'd love to hear their stories about the old days."

The crimson and cream Bolton buses were familiar throughout Greater Manchester in Bolton, Leigh, Wigan and Salford, for many years until the early 70s, and the museum event next year will recreate the atmosphere of the friendly bus company.

Any long-service employees wishing to tell their story should write to Paul at the Museum of Transport, Boyle Street, Manchester, M8 8UL and state the year they joined the company, and if not still working for Bolton's successor First Manchester, the date they left.

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