MiddleA memento of UK Walk Bus Driver of theTimes Year 2016

50 YEARS OF COMPETITION

l 2016 UK Bus Driver of the Year, Craig Lockyer, receives his winner’s trophies.

What a way to celebrate – 2nd placed Jonathan Welch was delighted with his winnings...

“...It’s the second time I’ve finished in the top three from four times entered. Craig wins at From local and nationl heats I’ve taken away £6000 in winnings. Annoyed with myself for not coming first, but there’s third attempt! always this year... Craig Lockyer was crowned UK Bus some of my nerves. It was a smooth drive goes a long way. It felt more special Driver of the Year in September 2016. and I felt there were no big mistakes. because Stuart Bradley, who trained me He sent us his story of that momentous Once I had finished I met up with my dad, as a bus driver, was there to witness the day... there was nothing more I could do now... achievement and we had an emotional encounter. Also with my dad, who has “This is my third year in the competition, “At the awards ceremony I knew if both been there for me throughout the having won highest place NX (National the NX awards come together none of us competiton, and at home my wife Donna, Express) and coming 6th overall 2 years would be in top 5 but when they didn’t 4 children and family had also been a running. The pressure was on to maintain there was a sense of excitement (and great support. or improve on that. I only just made it to nerves) within the NX team. Once 5th, “The prize money I won this year did help the final coming 4th in company finals, so 4th, 3rd, 2nd place had been announced I to make Christmas a great one and buy a I had a point to prove... knew NX had won and as highest Scottish few bits for the house! had been announced it was between me “The day before the competition I was and 2 of my fellow colleagues... “Back home I was in the local paper and feeling anxious but after the meeting of coach magazines as well as on the NX drivers I felt more relaxed and enjoyed “At this point the adrenaline had kicked in website and in their news letters, which the gala meal with my dad and work and the announcement of the winner felt was great. colleagues, then had an early night. like it took a life time... “The gifts this year - the commemorative “In the morning I took a stroll down the “When I heard my name I jumped out glass, model bus and tie were fab. I can promenade collecting my thoughts, did my seat shouting “YES, COME ON!” honestly say being a part of ‘UK Bus a final study, then it was time for the and thumping my fist in the air. It was Driver of the Year’ for 3 years has been a highway paper, book on and alcohol test. a surreal moment and I was in shock. pleasure and I’ve loved every part. I look To win it on the 50th anniversary was forward to many more years of competing “For the driving part I drove the Blackpool incredible. The NX team were all buzzing as well as defending my title this year!” Palladium bus, having a few words with with me because it was a team effort my late nan Pat for guidance to take away - we all supported each other, which Craig Lockyer, National Express Bus

www.bdoy.co.uk 1 3rd placed Colin Henderson wrote from First Scotland East...

“...I received a letter from Joan Aitken (Traffic Commisioner for Scotland) with her You’ve got congratulations on my success at The BDoY competition. I think this is a fantastic competition,which is extremely well organised and it was great to see the new trophies presented in this to be in it your special year...”

First Aberdeen’s 4th placed Adam to win it! Ksiazek’s family had a great time... The 2016 national final of “...It was a great experience to participate the UK Bus Driver of the Year BDoY competition 2016. It was my first Competition was special in time in Blackpool and I really enjoyed it. many ways. It was the 50th I found it to be a family friendly weekend, competition (with a new however the competition itself was comemorative logo) and the challenging! 35th to be held in Blackpool; It was a great pleasure to join great gala it was a celebratory weekend dinner, enjoy it with my family and have with balloons, cup cakes, a opportunity to meet plenty of drivers unique model bus gift for from different depots around UK ...... the competitors; there was a I was impressed to see how many considerable increase in the prize money (£20,000 in total) different prizes were awarded and that top five places received such great and table gifts for everyone - it trophies and huge money prizes...” was a family weekend!

l Joe Mackie, Chairman, 5th placed Go-Ahead driver Darren Of the 116 competitors, 10 UK Bus Driver of the Year Marshall was delighted to be a winner were female, 106 male and Association. 60 were new competitors “...The moment that the Chairman of BDoY, in the national final for Joe Mackie, called my name I was absolutely the first time. This was amazed! I honestly couldn’t believe that I had our commentator on the a fantastic response and done so well in the competition. I had won start line, the companies there are slots for more the Go Ahead Trophy and had been placed who give the use of buses competitors in future years. fifth overall, a truly wonderful achievement. for the competition, the Some were well travelled The prize money of £1,500 was absolutely bus operating companies to get to Blackpool, from fantastic...” the north as far as Macduff who encourage and and Aberdeen, from the support their drivers to west of Scotland, Greenock. enter and the industry From the rest of the UK recognised figure who competitors came from kindly presents the trophies in the east, Dover, and prize money. Your UKBDoY Council Brighton, Bournemouth and Dawlish in the south and I know there are many Cardiff and Swansea in the competitors returning to west. the 2017 competition and 53 will take part for the first As 2016 was an exceptional time, I wish you all every year it is hoped that this one success. There is a new off newsletter will capture in trophy and prize money to words and pictures the feel compete for in 2017 - the of the weekend and what it Highest Placed Competitor meant to be a winner. from a ROSCO Member Company. The success of the competition is down to Enjoy the competition, many things and many renew friendships, make new friends and enjoy the people, including our l Back row l-r: Paul Mackay, Director, Douglas Bailey, Director; sponsors, competitors, facilities at the hotel and in Chris Heaps, Director; Keith Fieldhouse, Operations Director; Andrew volunteer marshals and Blackpool. Braddock, Vice Chairman; David Williams, Director; Bill Holmes, Council members; the Good luck and good Competition Secretary; Frank Llewellyn, Director; Paul Martin, Director national stewards, the hotel driving! l Front row l-r : John Winstanley, Finance Director; Bryan Constable, staff, Blackpool Borough Vice President; Joe Mackie, Chairman; John Boxall, President; Tina Council, our scoring team, Joe Mackie Haynes, Company Secretary

2 www.bdoy.co.uk ...and the 2016 winners were... Fourth place - Adam Ksiazek (First Aberdeen) Highest placed competitor from an Overall Winner Bus Driver of the Year 2016 winning: independent company - Andrew Cawley - Craig Lockyer (National Express Bus) BDoY trophy for 4th place and £750 (Peoplesbus) winning: cheque BDoY Trophy and £1000 cheque BDoY Trophy for 1st place The Coventry Trophy, donated by Coventry Fifth place - Darren Marshall Highest placed competitor from an ALBUM Road Accident Prevention Council (Morebus) member - Shaun Clark (Ipswich Buses) The Road Operators’ Safety Council award winning: The ALBUM Trophy and £1000 cheque and £1500 cheque BDoY Trophy for 5th place and £500 The Unite Trophy and £1000 cheque cheque Second highest placed Arriva Competitor - The John Boxall Medallion - donated by Darren also won: Martyn Smith () BDoY Council Highest placed Go-Ahead Group The Arriva Shield and £500 cheque Craig also won: competitor - The Go-Ahead Trophy Highest placed National Express and £1000 cheque Second highest placed Go-Ahead Group Competitor - the National Express Trophy competitor - Steven Williams (Oxford Bus and £1000 cheque Highest placed Stagecoach Company) Best competitor from a depot in competitor - Brian Mackie Go-Ahead Shield and £500 cheque - The Giles Fearnley Shield and £100 ( Scotland) cheque The Stagecoach Trophy and £1000 Second highest placed London Buses Two night holiday break in London - cheque Competitor - Stephen Appiah (Go-Ahead sponsored by Transport for London London) Highest placed RATP-Dev competitor London Buses Shield and £500 cheque Runner up - Jonathan Welch - Neil Cousins (Bournemouth (First Aberdeen) Transport) Second highest placed National Express winning: The RATP-Dev Trophy and £1000 competitor - Stephen Bate (National Express BDoY Trophy for 2nd place and £1500 cheque Bus) cheque National Express Shield and £500 cheque Jonathan also won: Highest placed London Buses Highest placed FirstGroup competitor - competitor - William Bradford Second highest placed RATP-Dev FirstGroup Trophy and £1000 cheque (Stagecoach London) competitor - Georgina Fish (Bournemouth Best competitor from a depot in Scotland The London Buses Cup and £1000 Transport) - Joe Mackie Shield and £100 cheque cheque RATP-Dev Shield and £500 cheque William also won: Third place - Colin Henderson Second highest placed Stagecoach Best Theory Test result - Toby Kay (First Scotland East) competitor - The Stagecoach Shield (Stagecoach South West) winning: and £500 cheque BDoY Trophy and £300 cheque BDoY Trophy for 3rd place and £1000 cheque Highest placed Arriva competitor Best competitor from a depot in Wales - Colin also won: - Mark Woodgate (Arriva Southern Peter Mascall (First Cymru) Second highest FirstGroup competitor - Counties) The Donald Macdonald Memorial Shield and FirstGroup Shield and £500 cheque The Arriva Trophy and £1000 cheque £100 cheque

l Runner up - Jonathan Welch. l Third place - Colin Henderson. l Fourth place - Adam Ksiazek. l Fifth place - Darren Marshall.

Championing excellence since 1967 3 50 years of bus driving excellence Celebrated

l Joe welcomes the Mayor and Mayoress of Blackpool... l Precision driving... l Good company...

l In theory we’ve finished...

l The gifts this year were fab... l Special presentation to l Oh I do like to be beside President John Boxall... the seaside...

4 www.bdoy.co.uk