The industry and colleagues have paid tribute to Ian Fordyce, 68, who was killed when his coach was in collision with a car and tipper lorry in Aberdeenshire.
He was driving for Nicolls Coaches for whom he’d worked for five years, on a contract to a private school, when the accident happened at 0745hrs on 15 December.
None of the 13 primary and secondary children on board suffered serious injuries.
The circumstances of the crash have not been revealed, but Police Scotland described it as a “tragic accident.”
In a statement, his family said he would be "a sorely missed brother, father, grandfather and friend."
"Ian, affectionately known as 'Fingers' to most of his friends was very well known and popular with everyone he met.” His nickname was on account of having lost two fingers on his left hand in an accident when he was 17.
He’d been in the industry most of his life working for a variety of operators, including Dundee Corporation.
Nicolls Coaches, which runs around 40 vehicles from its Laurencekirk base says it is shocked and saddened by the news. GM Graeme Muir told routeone: “Our thoughts are with his family and all his colleagues, along with the children on the coach.
“He was a larger than life character who was extremely popular. He will be missed by us all.”
