Organiser of the routeone Awards Diversified Communications has confirmed members of the seven-strong judging panel for the 2025 competition, which is currently open for entries.
Longstanding bus manager Gary Nolan has joined the line-up of judges, building upon the extensive knowledge of multiple coach and bus disciplines already present. Mr Nolan will take the place of Nigel Eggleton in 2025. Mr Eggleton has joined Nottingham City Transport in an operations role and has thus withdrawn from the panel.
With 47 years’ bus industry experience, Mr Nolan held several senior leadership positions. He was appointed to Managing Director positions by First Bus and Stagecoach and rose to Regional Director with Stagecoach before retirement.
After that, he returned as Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Bus Operators Association, where he supported the region’s bus companies in discussions to find an alternative to franchising.
Mr Nolan began his career as a bus conductor in South Yorkshire before moving through the ranks, and he notes that over his decades in the sector he gained a good understanding of many roles “in an industry that I am still proud to serve and support.”
Change to the judges’ line-up for this year come after a large number of nominations for the 2025 routeone Awards were received. That first stage in deciding this year’s winners has now progressed into the entry submission period, which will run until 23 May. All entries are made online via a dedicated platform.
Sitting alongside Mr Nolan on the judging panel for 2025 are established members Joan Aitken, David Cattermole, Richard Delahoy, Mark Fowles, Graham Russell, and Norman Thomas.
Joan Aitken served as Traffic Commissioner for Scotland until 2019 and was awarded an OBE in that year’s New Year Honours List for services to transport in Scotland and to road safety.
She remains heavily involved in the industry, serving as Chair of charity Transaid and as a member of the Board of Trustees of passenger champion Bus Users UK, and is a regular bus user and an advocate for good public transport.
David Cattermole began his career in the coach industry during 1970 and gained the necessary driving licence at the age of 21. He joined Galloway Travel as Traffic Manager in 1981, progressing to become a shareholder in the business and its Managing Director.
He retired in 2019, having been credited with significant development at the Suffolk coach operator.
Richard Delahoy enjoyed 24 years in commercial banking.
In 1998, he set up a consultancy business providing practical advice on commercial and regulatory matters to coach and bus operators with a focus on small- and medium-sized fleets until recent retirement. For 17 years he was also administrator of the Guild of British Coach Operators, including establishing and running its Driver CPC training centre.
Mark Fowles is a former Managing Director of Nottingham City Transport. He retired in 2021. In 2022, he received an OBE for his services to public transport and to charity.
The latter work is well-known and included many industry golf days. Over £125,000 has been raised for a body established by Mr Fowles and his wife to fund research into facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.
Graham Russell enjoyed an over-50-year career in bus engineering, including senior roles in the UK, Hong Kong, and North America.
That began in 1970 as an apprentice with Newcastle City Transport and then Tyne and Wear PTE and took in Lothian Regional Transport and First Glasgow, both as Engineering Director, before continuing abroad.
Norman Thomas began his industry career in 1984 as a Regional Service Engineer with Leyland Bus.
He moved to Volvo Bus with the purchase of Leyland Bus in 1989 and retired from the position of Product Engineering Manager in 2017. Mr Thomas retains a keen interest in the coach and bus sector, particularly relating to its ongoing driveline development.
Judging will begin soon, with two rounds of in-person meetings scheduled over the summer for panel members. The 2025 routeone Awards will culminate with the presentation evening on Thursday 13 November at The Vox at Resorts World Birmingham.
For commercial opportunities through partner or supporter packages, please contact Sales Manager Martin Laverton via email. For more information on the routeone Awards, please visit the event website.
