Albert
Gunter - from The Daily Mail - December 1952
Flight to the South
Way-homes
on buses are for taking it easy. The stop and start trips allow for
the reading of papers, and, if sitting upstairs the view of a London
evening on its way into darkness is possibly the best in the world!
But, passengers to Dulwich in South London got more than their
tickets' worth while riding home for their suppers one late afternoon
a long time ago. They not only flew, they made headlines as well!
It
was the 30th of December, the last working day of 1952.
Albert Gunter had just steered his number 78 bus onto Tower Bridge
and was approaching the centre when it happened. All of a sudden he
felt his bus going-up! The arm of the bridge upon which he was
driving was no longer pointing ahead - it was rising!!! For a split
second it looked as though Albert's bus was about to make history by
becoming the first ever London Transport red double-decker to sink
without trace in the dark swirling depths of the Thames! But,
Albert's thinking was quicker than the currents of the river and he
went into action!!
With
his foot hard down on the gas he dropped down in gear. He needed
speed. It was his only option. There was no other choice. He had
passed the point of no return! He had to either fly or sink! And the
passengers were praying, and the bus was shaking, and Albert was
whispering determined encouragement to the bus, “just a little more
speed and all will be fine”. And then came the silence!
Suddenly
the shaking stopped! No-one was speaking. They had lost contact with
the ground. They were airborne. They were up in the air. The bus
was flying the gap and Albert was lining her up for a one-chance
landing. And then came the touch down and everyone felt it!
The
bus landed with an incredible bang! Seats and passengers were thrown
all over the place, but, thankfully no-one was seriously hurt. But
the sound of the landing was nothing compared to the passenger's
cheering and applause for their “captain” - it could be heard all
over London! The best landing a red double-decker London bus had
ever made! And the driver?
Albert
Gunter was decorated for bravery by the Queen. And this, by-the-way,
was another “first”. It was the first ever medal that the new
young Queen Elizabeth the Second was to award. A medal not only for
bravery, but for saving 60 passengers from a watery death as well!
Albert Gunter, Britain’s 1952 unofficial man of the year! A driver,
a flyer and a gentleman!
Tower Bridge - by Nigel A JAMES
.
