Tower Bridge is 120 years old today, but did you know about the time a bus jumped it whilst it was opening?
No, we're not talking about this astonishing special effects sequence from The Spice Girls movie
On 30th December 1952, a number 78 bus was headed north across Tower Bridge just as it was about to open
At the time, when the bridge was about to open one member of staff would ring a bell to clear traffic, then close the gates, then the bridge would open. On this occasion a relief watchman on duty mistakenly started opening the bridge before the all clear had been given - and the bus had already started to cross.
Driver Albert Gunter immediately realised what had happened, and floored the accelerator, crossing a 3 foot gap and dropping 6 feet on to the other side
The bus's conductor broke his leg, but there were no other serious injuries. Gunter got a £10 bonus (the equivalent of about £250 today), and was invited to be the best man at the wedding of one of the passengers, May Walshaw. He modestly insisted that any other driver would have done the same thing.
Happy Birthday Tower Bridge! We hope the next 120 years remain bus almost-disaster free!