ISSUE 57 - APRIL 2019 FUNDRAISING ON ROUTE 14 A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ANGELINE VERRILLO OUR DES RETIRES RECRUITMENT & TRAINING AFTER 40 YEARS ACADEMY NOW OPEN! RESPECTING RIVER ROAD driver Denise Jordan takes the ALL FOR EACH OTHER time to explain that when out on the road, all is not always as it seems! “On a recent dark evening, I was working on the 101’s, CHARITY towards Gallions Reach. The weather was getting colder as the time approached 22:35 hours. I checked the Tollgate Road bus stop, slowing down as did the 474 in front of me, when I noticed what looked like a pile of rags on the floor by the stop. As I approached, I kept checking I continued to drive past to see around the 474 for waiting but suddenly got an passengers. Meanwhile, I couldn’t uneasy feeling... work out what was on the floor and A CHALLENGE AWAITS THE NICOLA MARGERISON GALICIOUS MUD CRUSHERS! BEXLEYHEATH was unsure if it was rags or someone DENISE JORDAN plonked by the pavements edge. BUS DRIVER DENISE JORDAN RIVER ROAD MERTON Accident Prevention I continued to drive past but RIVER ROAD Supervisor Katarzyna Bilinska will suddenly got an uneasy feeling in the pit of my DAMIEN SEWELL be taking part in the Pretty Muddy stomach. If it was the latter, then a person's life MERTON Race for Life in support of Cancer could be at risk, so I did a Code Red. Research at Windsor Racecourse iBus asked if I had checked to see if the person on Saturday 1 June 2019. was breathing and I explained that I had not With the intention to raise as much Damien Sewell is a Run-Out stopped as I was not sure if it was a person NIKKI'S GRANDDAUGHTER money as possible, she invited SUMMER AND HER LITTLE PONY Controller at MERTON who recently or just a pile of rags. WILL BE TAKING PART IN JUNE. participated in the Marsden March, fearless ladies across Go-Ahead with a difference! Damien explains. On my next trip, I saw 2 ambulances at Tollgate London to participate with her. Katie is Road bus stop. I was so relieved that I decided joined by the GALicious Mud Crushers "On Sunday 10 March my family and BEXLEYHEATH Mileage Clerk Nicola to phone this incident through, as I now from the following locations: I were scheduled to complete the discovered that what I saw was in fact a person. Margerison and her granddaughters; PUTNEY: Marsden March from Chelsea to I really hope this individual was able to receive Summer 7, Kenzy 14, and Paige 16 TAKING Ola Prawucka Belmont, a total of 15 miles. the medical attention they required in order to PERSONAL THINK are looking forward to taking part RESPONSIBILITY [Operating Manager] in a charity country horse show This has become an annual family make a full recovery.” Karolina Murat jumping event on June 30 which event since my mum was diagnosed [Senior Garage Administrator] supports Cancer Research. and battled with cancer three years ago. Now, we find this event as a way TWICE... CROYDON: Nikki has supported Cancer to give back to the amazing team Aneta Trojniak Research for many years and [Assistant Operating Manager] that helped look after and care for through sponsorship, she has raised her whilst she underwent treatment HEAD OFFICE: thousands of pounds for the worthy during such a difficult time. Beata Misiura and well-known charity. Without a second for thought, [Payroll Administrator] On the morning of the walk, we Nikki said: “This is something Sandra allowed the lady to use her Beata Sowinska-Shelle arrived at Belmont at 7.30am and very close to my heart after my own mobile to call the misplaced [Payroll Administrator] travelled to Chelsea by coach. Upon 2 brothers, 1 sister and I lost our phone and a family member. arrival, we were informed that the STOCKWELL: mum when we were all very young Overwhelmed by her empathy and walk had been cancelled due to poor Althea Amos to cancer. To do something with my kindness, the lady wrote in to the [Senior Garage Administrator] weather conditions. company to ensure Sandra was granddaughters in her memory is Sarah Hillier truly wonderful. I try and help those As my family and I were already in commended. [iBus Hub Administrator] Chelsea (along with others who also who are unable help themselves and In her letter she explained: “At the arrived by coach), we decided to go If you would like to show your this is one of the ways I try to do just bus stop was a bus supervisor ahead and walk back to Belmont. support and donate, please visit that. We raised over £1,200 last time who I have since got her name to There was only around a hundred Fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/ and I am hoping to get even more be Sandra Parsons. Well, she went or so of us instead of the 5,000 that n a cold winter’s team/katarzyna-and-friends-2. this year.” way beyond her call of duty with normally take part. morning in February, Online donations can be made at: O me. She let me call my missing All donations will be gratefully Fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/ My family and I decided to complete iBus Controller Sandra phone and family member and my appreciated. Thank you! page/dream-catchers the 15-mile walk as it is for such an Parsons was working at work place from her phone. I was BUILDING amazing cause. Fortunately, there in a state. She then accompanied Nikki is a keen horse rider and rides RELATIONSHIPS BEXLEYHEATH bus terminus was a limited number of marshals me to Bexleyheath bus garage to regularly with her granddaughters. when she was approached by along the way for those who decided report it where the staff there too They are currently practicing for to continue regardless. a distraught passenger who were so helpful. If you have any the event and keen to make all their Please pass on my sincere thanks had left her phone on the bus. sort of staff recognition awards, sponsors proud on the day. If a new date of the walk is provided, to her." [sic] She explained to Sandra that I would like to nominate Sandra we will happily complete it again." SANDRA PARSONS her son had bought her the as I appreciate her kindness Sandra has since been commended by BEXLEYHEATH Performance Manager Daniel Butterfield phone for her 50th birthday and care shown to me that day. You are very lucky to have her and her humble response was, "It's all in so it was very special to her. representing your company. a day’s work, it's what we do.” BUS TALK | PAGE 2 BUS TALK | PAGE 3 2305 is back in town! In aid of Comic Relief, Go-Ahead London ran vintage Routemaster bus RML2305 on route 14 from Putney bus garage; this vehicle STEVEN PERRETT has special links to the route CROYDON from many years ago. Months prior to the event, our Commercial department were approached by Peter Noyes, a retired London Buses employee who advised us that 8 other bus operators BEING would be involved in this fund-raising ABOVE: BEXLEYHEATH'S ANDREW PIDDINGTON PROUDLY TAKES RML CAN-DO day, which turned out to be a resounding 2305 THROUGH THE WEST END. success. It was agreed with TfL that all passenger fares would be donated to Comic Relief. Commercial Operations Manager Jason Tann who assisted with arranging the day said: “Cover Commercial Assistant Ricky Private Hire Panel, Andrew Piddington; THETHE ECOECO CHALLENGECHALLENGE Harman and I produced some authentic and a conductor from Croydon, Steven “It was a brilliant way of raising money,” route 14 destination blinds for RML2305 Perrett, who were both excited to run this said Steve. “Passengers were pleasantly and once they were set and fitted, we service for such a good cause. surprised to see a Routemaster and primed the bus in preparation for the event.” conductor on route 14 again after so many On the day, the team started the service years and donated generously.” Ben Smith from our Schedules department from Putney garage and travelled to kindly produced a bespoke timetable Tottenham Court Road Station and Jason continues: “We received great IS BACK... and duty card with 3 rounders which ran completed 3 rounders. Collectively, all feedback from members of the public with IS BACK... throughout the day. The Commercial bus operators involved raised over £2200 some recalling the days of travelling the team arranged a driver from Bexleyheath’s for Comic Relief 2019. streets of Putney in a classic Routemaster.” andand YOUYOU couldcould bebe thethe winnerwinner ofof aa newnew eco-friendlyeco-friendly car!!!car!!! 40 years and NOWNOW isis thethe timetime toto makemake time to relax! MARRION RIGNEY thatthat extraextra specialspecial efforteffort fter joining the bus industry in The operation on my arm was a success so I SUTTON 1979 as a conductor at Stockwell, returned to driving until I was asked to work in the cash room at Putney. I trained up a colleague, then and carrying out various roles toto drivedrive inin thethe GREENGREEN andand A went back to Sutton, then to Merton to help out, for Go-Ahead London, Sutton’s Senior then back to driving again. I hope you’re with me! Garage Administrator Marrion Rigney I was soon asked to apply for the GOS (Garage log in to the MyMix app. has decided to retire. This is his story: log in to the MyMix app.