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Issue 89 | January 2012

onThe newsletter stage of

Train Driver of the Year Paul Trigwell. Time to choose your champions Awards hail those who go the extra mile THE SEARCH is on for the section, under ‘Media’, at www.stagecoach.com Stagecoach Champions of 2012. Then email the completed form to More than 30 employees across a number [email protected] or post it to Driver of the year of  elds have been honoured for their Lindsay Reid, Corporate Communications outstanding e orts since the  rst Manager, Stagecoach Group, 10 A TRAIN driver helping colleagues Champions awards were held two Dunkeld Road, Perth PH1 5TW. cope with a very sensitive issue was years ago. You are free to nominate yourself, named Train Driver of the Year Award at The 2012 awards will recognise or one of your colleagues, but all the recent Railsta Awards. success in Safety, Environment, entries must be received by Friday, Derby-based Paul Trigwell from East Community, Health, Customer March 30. Midlands Trains earned the award through his Service and Innovation, and all Gold, Silver and Bronze awards proactive work in helping other drivers deal employees are invited to nominate are presented for each category and with the e ects of fatalities on the rail network. colleagues making a real di erence shortlisted entrants receive a trophy He has worked closely with Samaritans, in these  elds. and a cash prize. The awards are judged helping the UK-wide support service develop Last year’s awards sparked a big response from by a panel that includes Helen Mahy, Chair of training courses and educational material, and bus and rail companies in the UK and, this the Group’s Health, Safety and Environment openly sharing his experiences to ensure the year, it’s hoped there will be even more entries Committee. work is tailored to drivers’ needs. – particularly from North America. Look out for updates on the awards and the David Horne, Managing Director of East To nominate your Champion, simply shortlisted nominees in future editions of Midlands Trains, said: “Paul is a great example download a nomination form from the FAQ On Stage. of a driver who is willing to put himself forward to make a real di erence in an area he feels passionate about.” Champions award categories: ■ Safety Champion: Awarded to an employee who has championed good safety or excelled in Rail travel fi t dealing with a speci c situation or incident. ■ Environment Champion: Presented to an individual who has championed greener working for a Queen practices and sustainability, such as by improving energy e ciency, reducing the company’s carbon was honoured emissions or developing innovative ways to get people to switch from the car to public transport. to be chosen as the preferred mode of ■ Community Champion: Recognises employees who have made a signi cant contribution to transport for Her Majesty The Queen the local community through charitable fund-raising or volunteering. when she visited recently. ■ Health Champion: For the employee who has done most to promote employee health Guildford Station Manager Venkatesh within the Group. Nathan Sankaran greeted Her Majesty and ■ Customer Service Champion: Presented to the individual who has gone the extra mile to Prince Philip as they arrived from Waterloo. deliver exceptional customer service. ■ Innovation Champion: For the employee with best new business idea across the Group.

Lifesavers honoured TWO Stagecoach Inspectors who helped save lives during the Cumbrian oods have been honoured for their bravery. Kevin Sheehan and David Hoare acted to stop people crossing Workington’s Northside Bridge, which collapsed in the devastating ooding of November 2009. And their bravery and sel essness during the incident has now been recognised with a Royal Humane Society Award. Kevin Sheehan (left) and David Hoare helped protect the public during the Cumbrian oods of 2009.

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You what?! takes top title (Overheard on a New York bus.) Passenger: Driver, does this bus have SETTING the highest standards in runner-up for its Fife Express operation, a bathroom? service earned Oxford Tube the title of while West’s depot Driver: Yes. Top Express Coach Operator at the 2011 also came runner-up in the Top National Passenger: Is it on the UK Bus Awards. Bus Depot Award. inside or outside? Judges praised the Stagecoach service for the Other runners-up awards went to excellence of its operations and its continued Stagecoach driver Yvette Tomlin Can you beat that? success in attracting new passengers. in the Top London Bus Driver category, Send your weird and Meanwhile, Stagecoach Group won the and Stagcecoach UK Bus’s Stagecoach wonderful overheard Environment Award at the London ceremony, Gold product in the Marketing Excellence comments to thanks to its e orts to make its UK Bus category. lindsay.reid@ Division a greener business. Congratulations also go to all the stagecoachgroup. In the Top Express Coach Operation Stagecoach employees and companies who com category, was named were Highly Commended at the awards.

A NEW eet of Gold-standard upgrade branded buses has hit the road, thanks Two extra-special to a £1.9 million investment by police volunteers . The 13 new double-deckers are running on TWO the 70-mile route of the X4 stopping at , colleagues have been honoured for and . their bravery while serving as Special “We believe this latest upgrade will Constables. encourage more passengers to travel on Revenue Inspectors Steve Delaney and the route and this will mean a further Paul Edwards received commendations at enhancement of the service in the not too the Special Constable and Police Support distant future,” said Steve Burd, Managing Volunteers Awards. Director of Stagecoach Midlands. The awards follow an incident in Manchester in November 2010, when they Stagecoach Midlands Managing Director apprehended a man who had stabbed a Steve Burd joins the mayors of Corby, student in the neck with a broken bottle. Peterborough and Northampton to launch Steve was also promoted to Sergeant last the new Stagecoach Gold eet. year, further acknowledging his services to the force. “We are extremely proud of their brave actions and professional conduct,” said Chris Stagecoach wins Britain’s admiration Bowles, Managing Director of Stagecoach STAGECOACH Group has again been named the most admired transport company Manchester. in Britain in an authoritative annual survey of corporate reputation. The Group headed the transport sector in the Britain’s Most Admired Companies 2011 awards and emerged as the 11th most admired company in 2011 out of nearly 240 businesses assessed across 25 sectors. It’s the third time in four years Stagecoach has topped the transport sector in Management Today’s annual review of Britain’s top companies, following the Group’s success in 2008 and 2010. 900-mile bike trek boosts baby care unit A UK-LONG bike marathon by Stagecoach colleagues has raised thousands for a great cause. engineer Alan Appleby and Poetry in motion co-workers Steve Laws, Davy Wynn, Eddie King PUPILS’ poems were given pride of (retired) and Mark Rutherford cycled the 900-mile place on Stagecoach buses. journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Five poems written by entrants to The ten-day trek raised more than £3600 for the Canterbury Festival Schools’ Poetry the Tiny Lives special care baby unit at the Royal Competition were displayed for Stagecoach Victoria In rmary in Newcastle. East & East passengers to enjoy. The cyclists have thanked Stagecoach Group and Phil Medlicott, Managing Director of Stagecoach North East for their donations, as well Stagecoach East Kent & , is as expedition support driver and cook John Green pictured with some of the young writers. and Steve Green, who served as a support driver and The charity cyclists stop o at Perth HQ navigator. en-route from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

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At the cutting edge

SHEFFIELD’S newly appointed Master The naming of ‘The Cutlers’ Company’ marks Cutler, Pam Liversidge OBE DL, joined a successful partnership with the city, bringing big Trains and representatives improvements to rail links to and from She eld, from across the city at a special train including faster journey times, extra services and naming ceremony at She eld Station. fully refurbished trains.

Rail staff connected SOUTH West Trains has issued BlackBerry handsets to over 800 guards to improve communication and passenger information during times of disruption. Master Cutler New-entrant guards are now given the Pam Liversidge smart phones as part of their basic training, OBE DL and and some of the recruits are pictured showing former o their new BlackBerrys on the Basic Guard Managing Course (BGC). Director Tim Shoveller unveil ‘The Cutlers’ Love on the line Company’. A HAPPY couple’s rail romance led to a special train-themed wedding day. Emma Mcrae and Gary Lucas  rst met on the 7:38am South West Trains service from Two in a row for spanner honours Surbiton to London Waterloo. SOUTH West Trains picked up two Wimbledon depot while the class 158 is And they didn’t forget their love’s railway honours at the prestigious Golden maintained at depot. roots at their recent wedding – even naming Spanner awards. Andy Pitt, former Managing Director for their tables as stations at their reception. For the second year running, the company South West Trains, said: “While we remain

Picture: Don Wales Photography earned the top awards for the best reliability one of the most punctual train operators, of both its Class 455 and Class 158 trains. we continue to work hard to try to deliver The Class 455 train is maintained at further improvements.”

Tram gets the blues Bus travel brings big savings SUPERTRAM passengers were given a musical treat during the TAKING the bus instead of commuting recent Blues Music Festival in by car could save drivers some £150 a She eld. month, according to new research. Blues singer and guitarist Dave A Stagecoach survey of transport corridors across Couldwell performed a short accoustic the UK revealed those making the eco-friendly set on board a tram as part of the switch to the bus saved over £1700 a year on average city-wide festival. – enough to pay household fuel bills for an entire year. “Rocketing motoring costs and household bills are squeezing living standards for many families across Trying the train Britain,” said Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Sir HELPING people with impaired . mobility to feel con dent travelling “This survey shows that people can save hundreds by rail was the purpose of a special of pounds a year by switching from the car to the bus ‘Try a Train’ day held recently by as well as avoiding the stress of being stuck in tra c South West Trains. jams on their way to and from work.” Phil Dominey, Stakeholder and Stagecoach has surveyed more than 30 commuter Accessibility Manager for South West routes across its national bus network, used by Trains, said: “We are aware that transport millions of passengers every year. plays a crucial role in people’s lives but we The study compared the cost of making the know that, for many, lack of con dence journey daily by car, in terms of fuel and parking or knowledge can often prevent them only, with the price of a weekly multi-journey ticket from travelling by train.” on Stagecoach buses.

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From Perth with love Driving ambition CARING sta from Stagecoach Group headquarters helped in Africa send some welcome relief to the needy DRIVING instructor Neil Rettie overseas. has swapped the Highlands of Scotland The Perth colleagues donated 36 for sub-Saharan Africa as he shares his shoeboxes full of goodies to the Blythswood expertise in road safety. Shoe Box Appeal, which sends presents Neil, from Stagecoach Highlands, is half-way to underprivileged children and adults in through a two-year secondment working with Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, Hungary, international development charity Transaid Ukraine, Moldova and India. as Project Manager of its Professional Driver Training Project in Tanzania. Neil Rettie has his work cut out He’s there to improve the quality and delivery promoting road safety in Tanzania. Polar express of practical elements of the local driver training SANTA travelled in style when he course. made a special pre-Christmas visit to “Public transport here is a nightmare, but that’s project and Neil and his team have just seen their ’s Parklands Community why I am here,” said Neil. new training curriculum approved. Primary School. “Buses are small but are crammed full with Neil continued: “It’s hot and humid, for which Stagecoach buses and local radio station many people standing, and they drive with the I am not designed! Running water is also an issue Spirit FM saw Father Christmas safely to door open and the conductor standing on the so, in the morning, I have a bucket instead of a and from the North Pole when it looked steps. There is very little road discipline and tra c shower. as though he might not be able to make is chaotic. “But I am loving this experience. It’s a huge the journey. “Training of bus drivers is also very di erent. challenge. Santa said: “I am most grateful to Sixty people at a time go out training on one “When I started as a bus driver with Stagecoach Stagecoach and Spirit FM for their help. vehicle, so each driver only gets a few minutes in over 15 years ago, deepest, darkest Not only did they arrange to collect and behind the wheel.” Africa is not where I thought I’d end up. return me home, but they also kindly But, thanks to the Transaid project, things are “This has been a huge opportunity for me allowed me to use the bus as a grotto for starting to improve. to make a di erence and it would not have the fair. Stagecoach has donated a second vehicle to the happened without the support of Stagecoach.” “What jolly festive fun!” Adam Keen from Stagecoach in Chichester revealed: “Santa has travelled Tug of war: A team of police and armed forces personnel pulled a Routemaster with us before and he’s always a cheerful through the streets of London. customer.” Top of the pups SOUTH Wales Inspectors Kelvin Chedzoy and Ray Harvey are both top dogs when it comes to the Kennel Club. Kelvin has reached the highest level of judging, while Ray acts as a steward for open and champion shows across South Wales.

Inspectors Ray Harvey and Kelvin Chedzoy are taking the lead in the Kennel Club. On the pull in London MILITARY might provided the double-decker from The Cenotaph in power for an unusual charity bus London’s Whitehall to Victoria. journey recently. The vehicle was supplied by Stagecoach Twenty soldiers, sailors, airmen and police London and all funds raised by the event o cers joined forces to pull a Routemaster went to the Veterans Aid charity.

Kevin’s career steps up KEVIN Levett has been appointed as new Assistant Operations Manager at Stratford bus depot. Kevin joined Stagecoach Midlands nine years ago and worked as a driver, relief controller and inspector prior to taking up his new position.

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WIN A Picture of £50 the Season VOUCHER THIS edition’s winning Picture of the Season was taken by Manchester Inspector George Franks. It shows a Stagecoach Manchester vehicle at Sharston Depot. Paul Prior and Matt Dawson from East Congratulations to George who will shortly Midlands Trains’ On-train team at She eld receive his prize of £50 of M&S vouchers. collect their certi cate from Arlene Phillips If you think you have a picture that captures one of the four seasons, please send your OBE. image to Lindsay Reid, On Stage, Stagecoach Group, 10 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 5TW, or Strictly superb service email it to [email protected] FORMER Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips took the oor to present a special award to East Midlands Trains. John’s an inspiration The company was shortlisted for Transport A SOUTH West Trains worker hopes his local hospital. Provider of the Year by Sense, the charity others may follow his lead in going the Since then, he’s taken part in several charity which supports and campaigns for people who extra mile for good causes. challenges for good causes, the most recent of are deafblind. John Donoghue has raised more than which was a 1522-mile cycling marathon from Nominated by a Sense member who praised £55,000 for charity over the past  ve years. Gibraltar to Poole to raise money for elderly the support he received from its sta , East His passion for fundraising began after he people in his community. Midlands Trains was named runner-up, and donated a kidney to his own daughter. John said: “I am proud to be an employee of received its certi cate from the Strictly star. Within nine months – thanks to a our company, and I hope my story may be of sponsored bike ride with support from South some use to inspire others to try and make the Ron’s record year West Trains – he went on to raise enough di erence to those who are less fortunate than money to buy a kidney dialysis machine for ourselves.” KEEN charity collector Ron was delighted this year when the East Midlands Poppy Appeal raised a record- breaking £15,850. 700 years down the line The East Midlands Trains employee is well-known locally for his e orts in aid of the MORE than seven centuries of service British Legion Poppy Appeal. were celebrated when East Midlands Trains He said: “I make an announcement to paid tribute to long-serving sta . say that I will be popping down the train The loyal employees enjoyed a lunchtime meal collecting any donations of cash. and shared some memorable stories of their time in “The smallest donation this year was 1p and the rail industry. the largest was £100, but every penny counts.” East Midlands Trains’ long-serving sta . Ron Wiltshire helped raise a record amount for the East Midlands Poppy Appeal. Help kids on the street Badges of pride WOULD you like to help ease the su ering of children living on the EAST Midlands Trains colleagues streets? pinned their hopes on selling badges The Railway Children charity has launched during a recent charity event. its fundraising events programme for 2012, And the idea proved a big hit, helping to with activities including cycling, hiking and raise £24,000 for the Railway Children running, as well as the popular Three Peaks charity. Challenge by Rail which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Pictured showing o the special badges are New events include a bike ride through the Train Managers Ian Morrish (left) and Sierra Nevada; Cycle India, a two-wheeled Matt Dawson trek from the Taj Mahal to Jaipur, as well as (centre) with the Welsh 3000s – climbing 15 mountains Dave Ellis from over 3000 feet. the Railway If you’d consider doing your bit for this Children great cause, visit www.railwaychildren.org.uk/ charity. events to  nd out more.

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Low-carbon kings Green gets even greener

Stagecoach is top at keeping AN ECO-friendly energy regime is being upgraded to make Stagecoach even carbon emissions down. greener and save millions of pounds. The Group The company already uses an energy management system provided by Vickers Electronics Ltd to recently control heating and lighting at more than 100 UK depots. earned the But it’s now started upgrading the technology to an even more modern and e cient Vickers Low Carbon system, which is expected to cut energy use by more than a  fth, saving an extra 2800 tonnes of Vehicle CO2 each year. Operator of The programme is being rolled out to all Stagecoach UK Bus depots over the next year, and it’s the Year award at predicted that, by 2013, it will have saved around 58,000 tonnes of CO2 – enough to power around the 2011 Low Carbon 12,000 homes for a year. Champion Awards held in London. It was recognised for its continuing commitment over the last two years Bike-friendly awards to operating greener vehicles, and impressed judges after reducing SOUTH West Trains rode o with no the carbon footprint of its buses by less than three honours at the National using cleaner fuels, investing in new Cycle Rail Awards. technology and introducing eco-driving The operator, which has taken a number techniques across its UK bus operations. of steps to encourage cyclists to use the rail Stagecoach Group Chief Executive network, scooped the sought-after Operator Sir Brian Souter said: “We’re delighted of the Year title. to have won this latest green award, Meanwhile, Stakeholder and Accessibility which recognises the hard work of our Manager Phil Dominey was named joint employees in reducing the impact of our winner in the Cycle Champion of the Year operations on the environment.” category, and Borough Council won the Local Government Partnership Scheme honour for its joint work with South West Trains. Green light for Jake Kelly, Customer Services Director at South West Trains, said: “We have consistently Cycle facilities at Farnborough Station helped championed the needs of cyclists, taking steps was South West Trains win a National Cycle Rail to make travel by train easier for those using highly commended in the Sterecycle Award. their bikes in the South West.” Green Business Award category at the & Rotherham Business Awards. Special offer The recognition follows Stagecoach Yorkshire’s recent nomination in the Environmental category at the She eld Star Business Awards. Go wild with our special offer INTERNATIONAL Spark of conservation organisation inspiration WWF-UK is o ering Stagecoach sta a 10% discount on all CHRISTMAS shoppers enjoyed products in its shop. greener bus rides thanks to an Make a New Year’s Resolution to electric bus service in the north east ‘go green’ in 2012, and treat yourself of Scotland. to a beautiful 2012 diary that uses joined Elgin recycled paper. BID and Council to launch the Or why not treat your loved one free electric service between Elgin City to a sweet-smelling sustainable Centre, the bus station and retail park candle, just in time for Valentine’s over the festive period. Day? Stagecoach Bluebird Managing Director Simply visit www.wwf. Andrew Jarvis said: “We were delighted org.uk/shop and enter the to work closely with Moray Council to discount code STAGE10 at the promote greener, smarter, and hope this checkout. helped encourage customers in Elgin to The o er ends on February swap their cars for the bus.” 29.

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Knit-ivity scene is star attraction THIS wonderful woolen Nativity scene has been delighting bus customers at Dunfermline’s Stagecoach Christmas lights Travel Shop. The much-admired in Windy City work of art was created by expert knitter CHICAGO Double Decker Annette Young, who’s an Company sightseeing vehicles helped administration clerk at the light up the recent Holiday Parade in Fife shop. downtown Chicago. The colourful event kicked o the traditional annual holiday season festivities in the Windy City. Shelters shine with Manchester takes gold colourful designs THE £6.5 million launch BUS shelters needn’t be boring – as of Manchester’s new Sharston artistic locals in have Depot has attracted some special proved. recognition. Stagecoach Midlands drivers have new The event earned Stagecoach landmarks to point out to passengers, thanks Manchester a gold award for Best to around 40 members of the Harvington Community Relations campaign at the community who painted two local shelters Chartered Institute of Public Relations’ with colourful designs. annual North West PRide Awards. They looked so impressive that the artists decided to hold an o cial launch event, which Stagecoach Midlands Managing Director US school bus Steve Burd was delighted to attend. “It’s a wonderful example of community operation sold Steve Burd cuts the spirit and everyone involved should be warmly ribbon at the shelters’ STAGECOACH has completed congratulated on a truly fantastic e ort,” said o cial opening. the sale of its Wisconsin School Bus Steve. business in the US which it has owned since 1999. The business was bought by Student Transportation Inc, and the General Manager Kids have a of Wisconsin School Bus and the rest of its management team have transferred with the grrr-eat time company. CHILDREN attending ’s latest kids’ Christmas party had Record year for a close encounter of the furred kind. Thanks to a visit from the Safari Team, the long-serving staff fun festive event featured a variety of animals, including a Siberian tiger, lemur, hawk, COACH Canada has presented and even a tarantula. Years of Service awards to a record 52 The kids also enjoyed time bouncing on two recipients. over-sized bouncy castles. The winner of this year’s Employee The event allows families from each of the Achievement Award was Terry Beauclerc, 11 regions covered by Coach Canada to get while the Jim McKellar Memorial Driver together, have fun and even enjoy a visit from Award went to Linda Walker. Santa. Congratulations go to all who were honoured. A Siberian tiger cub was just one of the animals who helped Coach Canada kids’ have a wonderful Christmas party.

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Holly’s facing a bright future

AMBITIOUS Scots youngster Holly Rodgers could be on the road to stardom on the European stage. Scotland has sponsored the local teenager in her quest to be the ‘Face of Europe’. In return, Holly helped launch the company’s eet of new coaches for the X76 service between Cumnock and . Wishing Frank (centre) a happy retirement Holly Rodgers and Stagecoach mascot are Steve Burd, Managing Director Buster the Bus Ticket launch the new Stagecoach Midlands (left), and Operations vehicles. Manager Colin Briton. Frank really has come a long way Give someone a NORTHAMPTON bus driver Frank Du y has covered a lot of ground in his 44 years at the wheel. In fact, it’s reckoned he’s driven some 2.5 sporting chance million miles – equivalent to 104 times around the world – prior to his recent WOULD you like to make someone’s all ages who have a disability, or who care for retirement. dream come true? someone with a disability, and more than 5000 Frank – a regular driver on services Stagecoach employees are being invited to people have already bene ted from a huge between Northampton, , nominate carers and people with disabilities variety of Sporting Chances. and – revealed: “I shall to be given the chance to ful l their lifetime’s All costs – except personal insurance and miss my bus driving pals and the passengers ambition. spending money – are met by the charity and – particularly the ladies who give me sweets Anything’s possible – from simply watching all they ask of recipients is that they raise some and chocolates.” their favourite football team or going to money for any other charity of their choice. EuroDisney to swimming with dolphins in ■ To nominate someone, simply complete an Florida or hang-gliding in the Swiss Alps. application form available from lindsay.reid@ Bus fuels festive Scottish charity Give Them a Sporting stagecoachgroup.com or, for more information, fun in Sheffi eld Chance organise dream activities for people of visit www.givethemasportingchance.com STAGECOACH Yorkshire driver The Stagecoach runners with children Lee Cottam and Norman Cook and fundraisers at Demelza House. from  eld Coach Station helped make Christmas a memorable occasion in She eld’s city centre. The festive pair took a decorated open-top Stagecoach bus to the switching on of the city’s Christmas lights, and also helped to promote the company’s charity calendar. Caring colleagues help the heroes A LONDON training supervisor inspired his colleagues raise hundreds for Help the Heroes. Brian Williamson’s family friend Private Tony Rawson died serving his country in FIT fundraisers from Stagecoach East Kent & East Sussex Afghanistan and, in Tony’s memory, sta at Run aids ran up a £4000 donation for a very good cause. Rainham Garage staged a charity walk and The colleagues took part in 2011’s Demelza Run, and were delighted collection to raise £800 for the good cause. hospice to hand over the bumper cheque to the hard-working fundraising team services at Demelza Hospice Care for Children, in Sittingbourne, Kent.

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– Deborah Killen and The quickfi re round Calum Durward need to know about cards. Stagecoach Group Head Offi ce, Perth D – Working in a call centre. Who are you? Most embarrassing

Deborah Killen and Calum moment? Durward who work C – Working for Ann Summers on reception and in the – all of that was embarrassing. – I don’t know! mailroom at Stagecoach D Group Head O ce in Perth. Dream Job? – I’d love to own my own What do you like most C LONG-SERVING Stagecoach about your job? nightclub. Highlands sta (pictured above) Calum – I enjoy meeting D – Does winning the lottery recently enjoyed a special dinner in new people all the time. recognition of their loyal service. and not having to work count?! Deborah – The people I Favourite animal? work with. C – Cats – you just leave – My them German to it and Stagecoach What do you like least about your no walking needed. D Manchester’s job? short-haired pointer Oskar. long-serving C – Having to walk round and round the – Irate passengers. Most like to be stuck in a lift with? employees. o ce all day. D C – Dawn French and– Robbie Jennifer Williams! Saunders – Favourite TV show? they’re hilarious. D C – Most Haunted. D – Don’t Tell The Bride. The Quick re Round features in every Biggest achievement? edition of On Stage and we want to hear C – Gaining my Hons Degree in Media from as many sta as possible. Production at Uni. To suggest the next participant, email D – Buying my  rst house at 19. [email protected] Worst job? C – Worked in a card shop, which was very boring. There’s only so much you East, began his career in 1962, working as a coach painter at the Byker bus STEADFAST Stagecoach and tram depot in Newcastle before Manchester employees were recognised moving to in 1997. at the company’s annual long service He said: “I have really enjoyed my awards. time with Stagecoach North East Managing Director Christopher Bowles though it’s been hard getting up at told the 36 loyal workers: “I am delighted 5.30am every day for almost 50 years. to express my genuine appreciation and That’s something I certainly won’t congratulations to all of the award recipients Ronnie Horsman’s team bid him a fond farewell. miss!” for their dedication to the company.” Ronnie, who is married to Janine Lie-ins at long last! and has two daughters and  ve grandchildren, added: “The people are AFTER nearly half a century of early great – a really lovely bunch. They’ve CONTACTS starts, recently retired Ronnie Horsman is been a pleasure to work with and I’ve  nally enjoying a few well-earned lie-ins. made some good friends along the Editor: Lindsay Reid, On Stage, Ronnie, who worked for Stagecoach North way.” Stagecoach Group, 10 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 5TW GLOBETROTTING and Email: Farewell to Sholto gardening are on the agenda [email protected] for Stagecoach West Operations Director Sholto Thomas, who’s www.stagecoach.com just retired after 38 years in the If you have a story for On Stage, bus industry. please contact Lindsay Reid as above. Sholto began his career as a conductor with the -based The copy deadline for the bus company in next edition of On Stage 1973. will be Friday, After working at various locations February 17, across Scotland as both a driver 2012. and depot manager, he moved to Stagecoach West in 2003. “I’m looking forward to more time Sta at Stagecoach West bid a fond farewell to in the garden and travelling to places, Sholto Thomas (centre, wearing red tie). both local and long-haul,” said Sholto.

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