As a teenager I was bus mad and my local bus garage in Stafford was where you would find me most week-day afternoons during the school holidays. For me the company slogan 'The Friendly Midland Red' rang true as not only did I know everybody including the area superintendant I even rode on the buses when they went out on their 'PSV brake test'. Amongst the staff were retired drivers like Sam Foster who had started driving solid wheeled buses for Northern General but ended his days just washing more moden buses like still new D9 5436