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Author Topic: 'Brave' Leicester pensioner steers bus to safety  (Read 5664 times)
Chris from Nailsea
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« on: November 24, 2012, 21:40:27 »

From the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Quote
A "brave" Leicestershire pensioner has been praised by police after he grabbed the wheel of a bus and steered it to safety after the driver passed out.

Alfred Throop, 67, was on an Arriva bus in Hastings Road, Leicester, on Thursday when the bus driver collapsed. He grabbed the wheel and steered it to the side of the road.

Leicestershire police confirmed a driver was "taken ill at the wheel" and that they believed Mr Throop gained control of the bus. A spokeswoman said: "Mr Throop's brave actions prevented the bus from causing further damage and serious injury to members of the public."

Mr Throop said: "I noticed the bus going from side to side on the road and thought 'there's something wrong here'. I got up to go to the front of the bus and that's when I noticed the driver was not himself. He looked like he'd blacked out or had a fit.

"I panicked as I couldn't find the brake and I saw cars coming down the road and cars parked on the side of the road. We could easily have hit somebody," Mr Throop said.

Mr Throop, who has not driven for 12 years since his last car was stolen, said: "It was very scary. Like a scene out of a James Bond film is how it's been described."

He said he was a bit shaken after the incident but had not suffered any injuries.
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
trainer
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« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2012, 22:39:15 »

Well deserved praise, indeed.  And what a wonderful name the gentleman has.  I am going to find out where it originates.
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TonyK
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« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2012, 23:20:50 »

Sounds like Anglo Saxon, and will share its origin with Thorp, Thorpe, Thrupp and the like. "Thorp" is old English for "village".

But whatever the origins of the name, it's a good thing Mr Throop was on the spot when the situation demanded. Well done, Sir!
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Now, please!
ellendune
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« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2012, 23:35:26 »

Sounds like Anglo Saxon, and will share its origin with Thorp, Thorpe, Thrupp and the like. "Thorp" is old English for "village".

But whatever the origins of the name, it's a good thing Mr Throop was on the spot when the situation demanded. Well done, Sir!

I thought Thorpe etc was a Viking name
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2012, 23:43:12 »

From Wikipedia:

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Thorpe is a surname derived from the Middle English word thorp, meaning hamlet or small village. Thorpe is found as the name of many places in England.

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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
TonyK
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« Reply #5 on: November 25, 2012, 00:23:26 »

JRR Tolkien would have known for sure.
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trainer
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« Reply #6 on: November 25, 2012, 16:34:00 »

Thanks for your helpful comments on the name origins.  I didn't want to start a completely off-topic subject, but since I had a chance to study Anglo-Saxon (many years ago, so no expert) I have always found the origin of names a fascination.  I seem to remember learning that Nordic languages and Anglo-Saxon are all related and modern Icelandic is very similar to what is termed Old English.  The Norse Tribes gave us some of our culture and we gave them our civilising railway technology (NB unsubtle attempt to bring topic back to Forum purpose).  It's amazing how one subject leads to another and this forum clearly has many educated and interesting contributors: I'll try to keep up (and on topic).  Cheesy
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