Mayor takes the wheel

Adam Hewitt • Published 1 Sep 2010 09:30 0 Comments

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GENEROUS bus passengers dipped into their pockets and purses for charity as the Mayor of Reading took the wheel.

Cllr Gul Khan, a former conductor and driver of the town’s buses and trolleybuses, raised £425 on two round trips of Reading Transport’s busiest route, the number 17 from Tilehurst to Wokingham Road, on Friday. He has kept his licence up-to-date but got training beforehand to make sure he still knew his way round a double-decker.

He said: “I was glad to get that training first, that really built the confidence after a long time off the buses. They are much lighter, the buses now, and drive differently to how they used to. I’m very grateful to Reading Buses for letting me do it and to the Academy leader Mick Hughes for being on hand and rattling the cash buckets!”

Reading Buses chief executive James Freeman said passengers were “amazed as well as impressed” that their driver was the borough’s First Citizen, and added: “They loved it. Many took photos of him with their friends and relations alongside. They willingly dipped into their pockets providing £425 in just two round trips. The Mayor did very well indeed. “

The money raised will go to his chosen charities for his year in office, the Duchess of Kent House hospice and the Reading branch of Age UK.

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