London has witnessed the demise of other popular forms of transport in the past such as the trams in 1952, trolleybuses in 1962 and the RTs in 1979, but the final withdrawal of the Routemaster probably eclipsed these in terms of public interest. In Routemaster Requiem, published to mark the final demise in public service of the type, Geoff Rixon and Matthew Wharmby, who have been following and recording surviving Routemaster services for many years, provide a tribute to the last years of this much-loved bus. Each chronological section examines, through text and photographs, the build-up to the conversion of each route and how the actual conversion was marked on the day. As such, the book builds up into a unique record of the gradual elimination of the Routemaster from London.
The book is a fitting tribute to this much loved symbol of London. It will be an essential purchase for the many enthusiasts interested in London’s buses. However, it is also certain to generate a lot of interest in the wider community among those who think that, with the demise of the Routemaster, the unique character of London has been diminished.
Author: Matthew Wharmby & Geoff Rixon
Format: HB 96 pages
Publisher: Ian Allan Ltd
Pub date: April 2006
ISBN: 0711031452
ISBN: 9780711031456
List Price: £16.99
