Several members of the coach and bus industry have been recognised on the 2022 New Year Honours List for contributions to areas including public transport, charity and their local communities.
Former Nottingham City Transport (NCT) Managing Director Mark Fowles (pictured, above) – who retired from the operator in April 2021 – has been awarded an OBE for his services to the transport industry and to charity.
While Mr Fowles’ achievements with NCT are well known, he also strived to help the wider industry. He was part of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Bus Commission for over 10 years, recently as Vice Chair. Mr Fowles was also Chair of CPT’s East Midlands region between 2003-2005. In 2009 he was appointed to the board of Traveline UK, becoming Chair in 2013. He was Chair of the Association of Local Bus Managers between 2017-2019 and President of The Omnibus Society in 2018.
Mr Fowles’ charity work is equally well known. To date he has raised over £125,000 for a charitable body that he and his wife established to fund research into facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, a highly complex muscle wasting disease that his daughter Kate suffers from. Among that work are charity golf days, which attract a strong turnout from across the industry.
Bus Users Wales Director on 2022 New Year Honours list
Also awarded an OBE is Bus Users Director for Wales Barclay Davies. He is recognised for his services to public transport and government. In his current role Mr Davies has facilitated over 200 events bringing together passengers with local transport providers.
He has represented the voice of those users with people responsible for planning and delivering services and promoted the bus as an agent for change in terms of improving air quality and reducing congestion.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Davies and his team campaigned for support for bus operators so that essential journeys could be made. He also promoted Bus Users’ messaging around the need for passengers to respect each other while travelling.
Stagecoach Manchester driver receives British Empire Medal
Receiving a British Empire Medal is Stagecoach Manchester driver Cornel ‘Junior’ Grant for his extensive work in the community. Mr Grant has been with the operator and its predecessors for almost 40 years and he works from its Sharston depot.
After serving in the Royal Fusiliers for six years and completing three tours in Northern Ireland, Mr Grant (pictured, right) joined the bus industry in 1982.
In the 1970s and 1980s he was actively involved in establishing the Moss Side Carnival and went on to be heavily involved in the Anglo-Caribbean Dominoes Championship, among other charity achievements.
He introduced members of staff at his former Princess Road depot to team building competitions and assists the Message Trust, a Christian charity that works to improve the lives of young people
In 2012 Mr Grant was selected to help support the UK Olympic Torch Relay, and in 2017 his efforts were recognised nationally by Stagecoach when he received the Silver Community Champion award. He continues to work with Stagecoach Manchester’s charity partners, helping to raise over £53,000 for those organisations. Mr Grant also assists with Remembrance services at Sharston depot’s War Memorial.
Other industry members recognised on List
In receipt of an MBE is Transport for London (TfL) Bus Driver Policy Implementation Manager George Macar for his work to improve accessibility in the capital. He has worked for over 40 years to promote bus travel for elderly and disabled people and was fundamental to London achieving a fully accessible bus network by 2005.
TfL credits Mr Macar for creating its ‘Big Red Book’ for bus drivers, which advises how they should handle a wide range of events that they may encounter when on the road. He has also been involved in bringing together passengers, drivers, operators and other stakeholders to improve understanding of the challenges faced by older people and those with disabilities
Also recognised is West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Chief Executive Laura Shoaf, who receives a CBE for her contribution to transport services and economic regeneration in the region. Prior to leading WMCA, she was Managing Director of Transport for West Midlands and currently chairs the Urban Transport Group. Francis Rogers, Chief Executive of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and Director General of Merseytravel, likewise receives a CBE.
Other recipients of honours include Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee Chair Keith Richards and Chair of Transport for All Alan Benson, each of whom receive an OBE; and founder trustee of New Jumbulance Travel Trust Christine Chisholm. She gains an MBE.
