my love letter to the 24 bus route – with audio
Dear Route 24,
You are the oldest, unchanged bus route in London, but I didn’t know that until recently when you came up in conversation regarding my research project. That’s right, you’ve been such an integral part of my formative years, taking me on so many journeys through central London, that I’m going to dedicate a whole artist’s residency to you.
You see you were the route with that beautiful Routemaster, who safely carried me and my brother unsupervised at a super young age (well it was the 70s you know), down from Hampstead Heath to Trafalgar Square where our Grandma lived nearby, a good thirty minute journey. We’d run up the steep winding stairs to the top deck eager for the backseat and tuck ourselves away in our own little world, enveloped by city life.
And I’d have the magic of my big brother all to myself for the duration of the trip.
It was literally two pence a ride! I remember one time not being able to find my coin and looking at my brother expectantly – he cheekily shook his head like he wasn’t going to pay for me. As if!
My lovely brother Mark, he died when he was 24.
And I stop.
I can feel tears welling up inside of me, 32 years later.
I’m at a blank, but I keep returning to that back seat. I felt so secure and looked after there, even if he did tease me sometimes.
Do you remember when the paper ticket roll would run out? We’d be so excited as the conductor would give us the long leftover strip with those two cool pinky lines running down either side. That paper roll, could be a metaphor for your route itself. You pretty much run in a straight line north to south and pass through some of THE BEST sights on the way; Camden Lock, Soho, China Town, Whitehall, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Cathedral. I never understood why tourists paid extortionate amounts for tour buses, they could have just taken you!
And of course there were my personal favourites too; my Grandma’s library on Charing Cross Road, my dentist down in Shaftesbury Avenue, (well, until Maggie came along – then he went private and I had to stop going). All of those electrical shops on Tottenham Court Road, where as a teenager I bought my thumping bass speakers (sorry mum), or Mornington Crescent where I got off one Saturday to go collect Ché on my way to the YMCA where he’d play basketball whilst I trampolined. (God I fancied him!)
So many heart warming memories.
And then I became an adult and life’s circumstances changed. I moved away, saw you less, but you remained.
A constant.
Always there for me whenever I need you.
The 24 bus route, from my childhood to my now 56 year old me I thank you. Thank you for carrying my lived experiences and enriching my history, my story, our story.
Much Love
Lara x
Tiger.On.The.Rock 