'John the Bus' marks 30 years at the wheel in Oswestry

Those 30 years have been spent ferrying children to and from school, dropping the elderly into town for their pension and generally being a friend to all – and he says he wouldn't have it any other way.

This month marks 30 years since John Price first started driving the buses around Oswestry.

For many, 30 years in any job sounds like a long time, but for John, who is also a town and county councillor, his love for what he does has only grown with time.

"I love my job and that's because my job is about the passengers, they make it. Where else could I take the Mick out of people the way I do, it's great fun," said John.

He said: "I totally acknowledge that I might be the only person some people might speak to all day and that's why what I do is so important.

"I also feel it's important that you have fun and a laugh and make people smile, otherwise it's all a bit pointless really isn't it?"

John's career driving the buses started in 1987 when he took a job with Emyr Jones, before moving on to Owen's and finally working for Tanat Valley Coaches, who he continues to work for.

The 54-year-old dad-of-two believes his career path is largely a product of his upbringing.

"I was brought up in an old folks home as my parents ran Fairfield Close nursing home in Gobowen, I went from having no grandparents to loads of them," he said.

"I was used to being around people, chatting to the elderly and hearing their stories and I just think that's what started this whole thing off. I've just always liked helping people," he said.

If you're from Oswestry it's likely you know John the Bus.

He said: "My nickname John the Bus makes me smile, it's funny, it's a bit of Welshism with us being on the border of Wales."

With his career spanning over three decades, John has seen children grow into adults, adults becoming parents and then grandparents.

"I think I've now dealt with four generations of one or two families now, I'm also still in regular contact with my first town service passenger, Rita from Chestnut Avenue, which is lovely.

"She's in her 80s now," he said.

As with all things in life, John has also experienced the sadder side of his job over the years, encountering the death of regulars and even having to check on those who he hasn't seen for a few days.

He added: "When you've worked in the same area for as long as I have, you do see it all, I've seen Oswestry go through many uncertain times, for example when Littlewoods closed, when Woolworths closed too," he said.

"There was so much doubt and uncertainly but things always come good."

John's love for people and Oswestry encouraged him to stick his head above the parapet, and was elected onto Oswestry Town Council in 2013 and Shropshire Council in 2015.

He said: "I just see it as another way of helping people and thankfully my bosses at Tanat Valley, Mike and Peter Morris, and also Nick Cullerford are great, they're really accommodating when it comes to my councillor duties.

"I like to see people do well for themselves, that's what I'm about. As a councillor you also get to experience those good points and see growth and movement. I want to thank my fellow councillors who are positive about growth and movement."

John insists his passion for bus driving has not waned.

"I'd like to thank the people of Oswestry for still making me smile 30 years on," he said