Bus Driving Sucess for Dundee Duo!
The UK Bus Driver of The Year Competition is in its 40th year and Travel Dundee is hoping that this year will see them capture the coveted title.
Jim Lee, Managing Director at Travel Dundee explains, "We always look forward to this time of the year, and the excitement that builds inside the company as the clock ticks around to the finals, which are being held in Scotland's favourite English resort of Blackpool!
"Make no mistake this company is providing two of the most favoured candidates for this years BDOY!
"John Black (47) lives in Menzieshill and is a regular driver on the St Mary's route. We have high hopes for John! This is the 7th time he has represented Travel Dundee and he has been close a number of times to winning the competition out right. He has been placed 2nd three times, and 3rd three times!
How about that for a record, and there is a considerable amount of expectation resting on this very experienced competitor's skills. John is a cracking bus driver, he has been the overall winner of the local heats of the competition seven times in the last seven years! Now that is nothing but a stunning record.
John is formidable in this Competition and everyone else in the BDOY will have him firmly in their sights as one of the 'favourites to beat'.
Kevin Freestone (39) lives in the St Mary's area of Dundee, Kevin drives on the Douglas route.
Whilst Kevin has been employed by Travel Dundee for 8 years, this is the first time he has entered the local heats, and he finished 'runner-up' to John, not bad for a first time competitor .
Kevin is quite a 'cool dude' he has explained to me that he entered this year out of pure curiosity!
I have no doubt that both of these super bus drivers will not only 'do their company' proud but also their City of Dundee."
- The event has its origins in a Coventry Corporation road safety competition for bus drivers in 1967. Gradually, more operators asked to join in and, by the mid-70s, a truly national competition had been born.
- The final has been held in Blackpool since 1982. TRANSfED, the training arm of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), looked after the administration of the event and provided a secretariat for the competition for over a decade.
- Since 2003, the total management of the event, which is now firmly established as the premier skills competition in the industry, has been wholly in the hands of the members of the BDoY Council.
Click here to read more about other NX Bus Division Finalists.
Published 5th September 2006