Lancelot Window
A work-life passion with buses, sharing times with clients and friends, has made his driving life a long happy road.
Lancelot Murray Window, (Lance), born Adelaide S.A. 28.10.1930. Grandfather was steam train engine driver, uncle sold trucks, they may have provided the seeds of interest in vehicles and transport.
First job - Apprentice mechanic at 16, Mitchell's Garage, Woodville.
First drive of a bus at 18, offered by Mr. Clive Bull, Bull's Bus Hire Service, a D40 International with wooden box body. He was hooked, offered job as mechanic/driver. Fleet mostly Fords, + Whites, semi- trailer buses, Bedford, International, Lawton & MBA bodies.
1949, awkward moment, delivering White - Prime Mover/Semi-Trailer Bus, to boss Mr. Bull, (bought from New England Bus Service- Lismore, co-driving with mate Merv Blanks), covered in mud, after being bogged on Hay Plains for 4 days.
One of fondest moments, first solo tour for Bull's in 1950 at 20, to Sydney in a Ford Custom 37 seater.
Memorable trip, 1952, driving a bus with back up truck, for Captain Thompson and group of uni boys, searching for caves across the Nullabor, (for 1 month), salted meat, oily water, no tracks, a real adventure.
1960 started at Slattery's Bus Service, as mechanic/driver, for Rex and wife Billy, doing service runs, he developed charter work to all parts of Australia.
1976 State Government took over all MTT businesses, worked as tour and charter planner, no driving or mechanic work, not happy.
Friend Stan Ellis asked about starting up a bus business, Dalwood Coach Lines commenced 1977. First bus S.H. 35 seater Leyland Tiger Cub. Fleet grew to 6, including new Scania with PMC body. After 18 years of charter work and tours business was sold, he retired at 65.
Past clients/friends asked if he'd do more tours, 1997 Lance started Meander Tours with wife Barb from Woodville, then McLaren Vale, hiring buses from Premier Road Lines, touring all states, and also New Zealand, business continued for 15 years.
He's driven Wharfies - Church Groups, Soldiers - School Kids, Field Naturalists Football Teams, Migrants -Symphony Orchestras, Service Runs - Faithfull long term clients, and everyone in between. At 86 he still casually drives for Willunga Bus Service, doing school bus runs.