Will’s Word On Warwick: Leamington’s Number 1 bus service

The Number 1 bus service in Leamington is a rolling wonder: one part retirement community on wheels, one part community lifeline, one part bus, this local institution has to be seen to be believed. A spawn-in location for the most eccentric people you’ve ever met, every Leamingtonian should have a Number 1 bus story, it’s simply a rite of passage.

The bus’s regulars always seem to know each other, creating a homely and familial atmosphere. This is most apparent with the bus driver, who appears to be on first-name terms with every person on board. Trundling from Warwick to South Farm, this vital single-decker service also gives residents of Mordor-esque Whitnash and ‘pseudo-Whitnash’ Tachbrook Street access to the ‘real world’. Even more importantly, it can provide a lifeline for Leamington locals without cars, some of whom may or may not occasionally resemble randomly generated GTA characters.

One major advantage of the service is that you can skip the arduous task of getting ready, board the bus in your dressing gown, and still be one of the best-dressed people aboard. The Number 1 does not judge; it has no dress code; it accepts all creeds, mental states, and outfit choices. Moreover, its side-facing seats located near the bus driver are absolutely fantastic. Don’t ask me why. They’re just perfect.

Whether the baby was lucky enough to be born aboard remains undetermined, but knowing the Number 1 bus, I wouldn’t be surprised

I reached out to some of the bus service’s finest student patrons to highlight its unique edge. One mega fan told me of a time she saw a heavily pregnant lady in what could only be described as ‘active labour’. With sounds of loud, public contractions filling the bus, the driver eventually pulled over and asked whether it would be best to call a taxi. The mother-to-be firmly refused and ordered the bus driver to press on towards Warwick Hospital.

Unfortunately, the conclusion of this situation beyond the Upper Parade remains unknown, as this was our storyteller’s stop. So, whether the baby was lucky enough to be born aboard remains undetermined, but knowing the Number 1 bus, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Bryn Baber-Day, a third-year History and Politics student and WUAXC Vice President – who asked to be kept anonymous – reminisced:

“I once witnessed a roughly 30-year-old, fairly plump woman with short, spiky hair in a tank top walking onto the bus with a pram containing a plastic baby. The lady was talking to this baby as if it were her own, and even asked a kid on the bus to come and say hello to this pretend infant. The parents of the real child looked mortified, as did I. However, it speaks to the conditions of the Number 1 Bus that every other passenger seemed to think this was completely normal.”

The bus, in classic Number 1 fashion, waited for no man and continued plodding on to the Parish Church, where it was ultimately forced to pause and coordinate a police report

Another bus user recounted witnessing a guy chasing after the bus after it drove past him. Eventually, the man gave up, resorted to throwing a brick at it (I guess he had one on hand), and successfully smashed one of its windows. The bus, in classic Number 1 fashion, waited for no man and continued plodding on to the Parish Church, where it was ultimately forced to pause and coordinate a police report.

Elliot Fox, a third-year History and Philosophy student and Senior Warwick Welcome Service Ambassador, told The Boar:

“I witnessed a man who seemed to be dying in real time. Following an anything but graceful entrance, he remained suspended within a half-iron-lung, half-shopping-trolley mobility contraption. His Vader-like breaths: loud, raspy, and worryingly infrequent, provided a mortifying soundtrack to my Number 1 bus experience.”

One student noted seeing a woman in an enormous red jumper dual-wielding two huge garden flamingos at one o’clock in the morning.

Frankly, this service is likely the best thing Stagecoach has ever done – although admittedly that’s an extraordinarily low bar

Mary Murton, a third-year English and Creative Writing student and proud Whitnash resident, reflected on one of her favourite stories from this cultural institution:

“A bloke got on and walked straight past the driver, who called him back, to which the man replied, ‘What, I’ve got to pay?’ He then pulled out a velvet drawstring bag full of £20 notes. The driver didn’t have change for that, so the bus had to drive forward and stop outside a newsagent’s, and we all had to wait while the man ran in and bought a bag of crisps so he could get change to purchase his bus ticket.”

Another student recounted that she once met a lady who said she sat on the bus all day with a good book, simply because it was free and warm. As well as being really sweet and a little heartbreaking, it shows just how vital this community service is and how important free bus passes can be for elderly people. It seems a good time to note that, frankly, this service is likely the best thing Stagecoach has ever done – although admittedly that’s an extraordinarily low bar.

Whether you’re rain-drenched, knackered, cold, or simply in need of a lift, the Number 1 bus continues to be a lifeline for locals and students alike. This chaotic institution is an amazing microcosm of local life, an endlessly intriguing cross-section of society, and a vital community hub which, in our increasingly polarised world, makes it more important than ever.