Tim steers into retirement after years on school runHE has been the friendly face in the front seat for more than 40 years.

Now, after driving countless children to school, Tim Arlott has decided to hang up his coach keys.

Over 40 years ago, he joined his father’s company, Aldermaston Coaches, in Grange Lane, Beenham, aged 17 to drive mini-buses, upgrading to coaches once he was 21 and had his PSV licence.

His daily run included driving school children from Little London to The Hurst Community College, in Baughurst, then taking children from Tadley to two Basingstoke schools – St Bede’s Primary School, in Popley Way, and Bishop Challoner Secondary School, in South Ham.

The 62-year-old, of The Copse, Tadley, said: “It’s one of those things you plan ahead for and all of a sudden it’s on top of you and everyone’s saying ‘happy retirement’!

“Parents have been sending cards and gifts because I’ve been driving some families for years.

“I recently went to a garden centre and recognised a lady, and she said: ‘You do realise you’re driving my grandchildren now’. So I’ve driven three generations – I think it’s time to retire!”

Mr Arlott, a relative of the late cricket commentator John Arlott, owns the business in partnership with his older brother David, 64, who lives in Beenham and is also retiring, and younger brother Philip, 55, who will continue running the firm.

In retirement, Mr Arlott plans to become more involved in local charity work and spend more time with his wife Frances, who is also retired, and five grandchildren, who range in age from six to 14.

But he will miss the new school year in September.

He said: “You get the new children come along crying and I always tell them it’ll be ok, and within 10 minutes they’re laughing on the bus while their parents go home thinking ‘Oh my God’.

“These days you get children phoning you up saying they are running late and can I hold on for them – we never used to get that!

“But it’s also sad when the children leave.

“I see them sometimes, strapping lads in their 30s who I used to drive to infant school, and they’ll always say hello.”