A RETIRED teacher has used his free bus pass that gives him unlimited trips when he turned 60 to travel 2,000 miles and write a book about his adventures.

A RETIRED teacher has used his free bus pass that gives him unlimited trips when he turned 60 to travel 2,000 miles and write a book about his adventures.

Author Pip Wright, who lives in Polstead Close, Stowmarket, has become well known for his local history work and historical novels.

But his newest project will be available very soon is entirely different and describes the results of travelling extensively in and out of the Suffolk, using about 100 buses.

He has featured 35 journeys in his new work, with short trips of between Stowmarket and neighbouring Needham Market to eight hour 200 mile expeditions using eight buses to travel from Framlingham, taking in communities including Aldeburgh, Southwold and Harleston just over the Suffolk border Norfolk, and back to Framlingham.

Mr Wright, 60, who worked at Combs Ford Primary School in Stowmarket for 30 years before taking early retirement about six years ago, said: “A bus pass has to be one of the best freebies around, and with a beautiful county like Suffolk to explore, it takes on an even greater significance.

“I have taken to bus travel and used it with a real passion to discover the places it is now possible to reach by public transport.

“I was occasionally accompanied by dogs, elderly relatives and small children, and have included walks and even rides on a fold-up bike in my 35 expeditions.

“I was surprised just how far you can travel and what wonders you can find travelling on a bus in Suffolk.

“It has been terrific fun and some of the bus drivers were really interested in what I was doing. And some of the cross country routes are amazing.

“They are almost little private transport for a handful of people, little social outings for villagers who get collected virtually at their door by a bus driver who has known them for years, with everyone handing round sweets.”

Mr Wright writes local history books and give talks to groups across East Anglia and two of his most recent books have included Death Recorded about capital punishment in Suffolk, and I Read it in the Local Rag, a collection of items from old local newspapers.

Exploring Suffolk by Bus-Pass is about to be published by Pawprint Publishing (ISBN 978-0-9548298-6-5), costs £5.95, and is illustrated in full colour with about 80 pictures.

INTERNET:

www.pipwright.com