Support from colleagues at the Public Transportation Board (PTB) helped to get long-time bus mechanic Kenneth Fray through a long recovery from a debilitating stroke.

Mr. Fray retired from the PTB in September and was recognised for his 43 years of service at a special banquet. Many other employees were also acknowledged, but none of them had worked for the PTB for as long as Mr. Fray.

“I was off work for a little over two years,” said Mr. Fray during an interview at his home in St. George’s.

“But I was told that when I was better I could come back to work. The idea that I could go back to my job really helped me. I was able to focus mind-wise. I was only on light duty or half days for a while.

“The director Mr. Herman Basden and the deputy Mr. Dan Simmons and good friends of mine all gave me encouragement. I was treated with the greatest respect and never wanted for anything. They really helped me along to get through with my stroke and recovery.”

Mr. Fray did eventually have to retire two years short of the usual retirement age, but he is still appreciative of the PTB’s efforts to help him.

“I would have liked to go on, but I thought enough was enough,” said Mr. Fray.

Mr. Fray said encouragement from his friends and family, especially his wife Brenda also helped immeasurably.

When he first started with the PTB, he was just 19 years old, and Bermuda buses were still green rather than pink and blue.

“I started as a body work helper,” said Mr. Fray. “I did things like fix damage to buses and chassis, and I worked on welding and soldering. I was eventually promoted to charge hand in the body work department.”

As a young man, he followed his father, Edward Albert Fray Sr. into the business in 1963. He and his late father had a total of 79 years of service with the PTB.

“My father started with the buses in 1946, when the first bus went on the road, and retired in 1988,” said Mr. Fray. “He was the very first bus driver. He worked his way up to dispatcher, and was promoted up the ranks. Then he retired and became the Deputy Director. He was a self-made man. I had a sister who worked in the administration part, Josephine Woods. She worked there for a few years.”

Mr. Fray said when he first started at the PTB, things were quite different.

“When I first worked on the buses, the bus drivers had to open the main door with a handle,” he said. “Some of the buses had five gears. I think bus fare was probably around a shilling at that time. At that time they had about 90 buses. Now they have more.

“Buses in those days had two digit numbers like 1, 14, 20, 30. There were also smaller buses that would go on certain routes, such as down to Castle Harbour or to Spanish Point. The bus garage was also on East Broadway, and moved up to its current location in 1988.”

He said with the advent of fibreglass buses in the 1970s, they got a little bit more difficult to work on.

“Mr. Bill Robinson sent me over to Bermuda Forwarders,” Mr. Fray said. “They had a couple of vehicles there that were fibreglass.

“A gentlemen there in the garage knew about fibreglass. He taught me how to fibreglass and mould.

“So I was able to mould patches off of buses and make a whole front of the bus and a whole rear.”

In those days respirators or face masks weren’t used. The only protection Mr. Fray had from the fibreglass dust in the air was a rag around his face and mouth.

“We didn’t have any protective clothing,” he said. “I was allowed to wash up immediately after every job that I did. I would be covered from head to toe with dust. However, I wouldn’t say I ever had problems with my lungs at that time.”

Mr. Fray said he enjoyed working on buses, but when he sees one pass by today he thinks he’s seen enough of them.

“I miss it to a certain degree,” he said. “I am still adjusting. I still get up at 4 a.m. to get ready to go to work. My wife has to remind me that I am on retirement now, sit down and relax. I made 8 a.m. but I was always on the job ahead of time at 7 a.m.”

He said he liked meeting people in his job and perfecting his skills.

Mr. Fray and his wife have nine children between them and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He said that having a stroke has really brought him and his wife closer together. They are planning to renew their vows soon after 20 years of marriage.

“A few years ago I was referred overseas for treatment for major surgery in Queens, New York at Franklin General Hospital,” said Mr. Fray. “I remember walking in the hospital, getting into bed and being prepped for the operation, and I don’t remember much afterward.”

The operation was supposed to last four hours, but instead lasted seven. And not long after it ended, Mr. Fray had a stroke.

“My wife is a wonderful person for standing by me,” said Mr. Fray. It could have been worse. I don’t complain really.

“It just left me with no use of my left arm and hand and my leg is very weak.”