During his latter years my dad lost his sight due to diabetes and eventually had several guide dogs. The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association usually match the size of the dog to the height of the blind owner and since my dad was quite tall, he was assigned large German Shepherd dogs.

Up to his retirement, he used to work off the Old Kent Road and would commute every day by bus. The size of the dog and where it should be placed on the bus was always a problem.

The dog was simply too big to sit between him and the seat in front and if it sat to one side of him then it either blocked the seat next to him or the main aisle down the middle of the bus. As a result, even though it was obviously a guide dog with a harness attached, some passengers would become quite irate and complain to the conductor. (I’m talking older type buses here)

Fortunately, the conductors got to know him and suggested he sit the dog under the stairwell where the pushchairs are put, which while separating dog and owner was probably the best solution since the dog could sit in peace and the passengers could sit and move about freely. But even then it was still a problem if someone boarded with a pushchair and essentially it was a no win situation.

However, I should think the sight of a big, black, long haired German Shepherd dog staring out at you as you boarded the platform of the bus must have been priceless!