A Salisbury Reds employee is celebrating after being awarded the top bus driver accolade. 

Daniel Duffy was competing against colleagues from the Go South Coast operating group - including Bluestar and Unilink in Southampton, Morebus and Unibus in Dorset, Swindon’s Bus Company, and Southern Vectis on the Isle of Wight.

He said: “This was an incredibly challenging event, and I was up against some excellent colleagues. I’m really happy to have come out on top. It’s great to get this kind of recognition.”

Judges based their decision on a range of criteria - including drivers’ professionalism at work and stand-out skills during manoeuvres at a special event at Salisbury’s livestock market.

Go South Coast operations director, David Lee-Kong added: “We are justifiably proud of our drivers across all Go South Coast operators, so the winner of this annual award has to be something very special.

“I’m very pleased for Daniel. He has placed higher than any other Go South Coast driver in this competition, and that is an amazing achievement. This reflects, not only of the quality of his driving - but also the fantastic service he gives to passengers across Wiltshire. I am very much looking forward to seeing that continue over the coming year.”

David Grantins from Morebus came second, while Vinod Ramachandran, from Bluestar, was in third place, Barry Walker from Salisbury Reds in forth, and Rob Lovell from Unilink in Southampton, who was fifth overall.

The top five Go South Coast drivers will be put forward to take part in the national Bus Driver of the Year final, due to take place in Blackpool in October this year.

 

Get more Salisbury news. 

You can also like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date, as well as signing up for one of our newsletters.

If you want online news with fewer ads, unlimited access and reader rewards - plus a chance to support our local journalism - find out more about registering or a digital subscription.

Email newsdesk@salisburyjournal.co.uk with your comments, pictures, letters and news stories.