IN the year The Beatles were becoming famous, one local man was retiring after driving Lancashire United Buses for 40 years.

On Saturday, 98 years-old, Norman Aspinall of Stonecross Lane, Lowton, was a guest of honour at a special event commemorating one of the county's oldest bus companies.

Mr. Aspinall served with LUT from 1923 until his retirement in 1963, and won his special place as the company's oldest surviving employee.

He was treated to a ride by a vintage bus of the type he used to drive for a trip down memory lane to the Transport Museum in Manchester which was holding an Open Day.

Mr. Aspinall was presented with a framed photograph of a Lancashire United bus by Cllr Joe Clarke, Chairman of the present day Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority.

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