The author's interest in buses and coaches began at age 7\. Growing up in Kempston, just outside Bedford, United Counties was his local bus company. Spending most Saturdays at Bedford bus station noting the comings and goings of the United Counties fleet, this grew his interest further. Twenty-three years later, his interest in buses has expanded to the whole of the United Kingdom, in particular London and of course Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire.