John Armstrong, Casual Bus Driver

I am mechanical. One of my favourite hobbies was tractor pulling, using stock farm tractors. My 6500 lb. tractor pulls 14,000 lbs. I am also into old trucks and have a 1952 3 ton truck that was used for hauling apples in Osoyoos. And have the first rubber-tired tractor in Keremeos, a 1937 Allis Chalmers that was owned by the Clarke family when it was new.

 

I was a mechanic for 40 years. I fixed snow plow trucks and graders in Prince George and Dawson Creek. Then in Smithers BC, I fixed tucks and loaders and forklifts at various shops, then started looking after school buses. I was a mechanic and driver there for 8 years, then moved to Keremeos to look after the buses there for 18 years, and now at 70 years of age, I still drive a school bus.

 

I help my wife in the garden, and I am building a model outdoor railroad in G (garden) scale. I am also involved in The South Similkameen Museum, and currently am president. I still have 5 tractors to look after, I also pull floats in the parade with them and just have fun.

 

I expect to be active in the museum for many years yet, and maybe go back to tractor pulling some time too. I am retired, and just having fun in life.