In the spring of 1967, Rita Little was thirty years old and newly employed as a tour guide for Baker’s Buses.
She had not imagined herself in the role. Like many things in her life, it had happened because she said yes when someone else might have hesitated. She was single, sensible, and still learning the difference between confidence and competence. Her training consisted of a slim folder of notes, a firm handshake from the depot manager, and the instruction to “keep them interested and keep them moving.”
The tours were modest affairs. No more than twelve passengers at a time, collected gradually from agreed points as the coach made its way out of London. Baker’s believed this gave the outings a personal touch. Rita suspected it was also easier to manage complaints that way.
She learned quickly that a coach is a peculiar kind of room. People talk more freely than they intend to. They reveal habits, grievances, enthusiasms. Rita’s job was to provide context—dates, names, anecdotes—but she found herself noticing other things too: who sat beside whom, who listened, who corrected, who watched the road instead of the view.
The journeys usually began at the depot in Shepherd’s Bush and worked steadily toward the coast. What happened after that was never part of the itinerary.
As each episode unfolds, Rita and her cheeky driver Ken, will accidentally solve various mysteries, murders and crimes while having fun as they drive along the South coast of England.
The coach is ready to leave, hurry up and get on. Or you will miss the thrilling adventures that await: