Lothian East Coast Buses man Thomas Gilhooley (pictured) was crowned Bus Driver of the Year 2024 at the National Final in Blackpool on 1 September, leading the winners’ roster.
Mr Gilhooley has worked at the operator’s Musselburgh depot for over six-and-a-half years and triumphs at the third time of asking. He followed a third-place finish in 2023 and took home a total £4,600 of prize money across multiple categories.
In addition to the headline silverware, Mr Gilhooley claimed The Coventry Trophy; the Road Operators Safety Council (ROSCO) Award; the Unite Trophy; the John Boxall Medallion; highest placed competitor from a ROSCO member; highest placed competitor from an ALBUM member; and highest placed competitor from a depot in Scotland.
Runner-up in the 2024 contest was Raj Viswanathan of Go-Ahead London. As another regular competitor, Mr Viswanathan bettered his fifth place in the 2023 National Final and claimed £3,800 in prize money.
The top three was completed by Brian Mackie of Stagecoach East Scotland. National Express Coventry entrant Danny Bayley finished fourth, while Clive Sutton of First Bus North and West Yorkshire recorded a fifth-place finish.
Presentations were made by ROSCO Chairman Phil Smith, with the ceremony again held at the Imperial Hotel. 300 supporters and family members joined competitors to hear the results, with both Mr Smith and UK Bus Driver of the Year Association Chairman Joe Mackie congratulating all winners. Mr Mackie has also thanked industry sponsors for their backing.
The First Bus Manchester, Midlands and South Yorkshire business unit again took silverware via the Bryan Constable Award for best-presented buses in use at the National Final. In the newly delivered or up to one year old category, a Wrightbus StreetDeck Electroliner battery-electric double-decker from the First Leicester fleet was victorious.
For buses between one and five years old, Stagecoach Merseyside, Cheshire and South Lancashire won with an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 that made the short trip from Preston depot. For buses over five years old, Lothian Buses triumphed with a 2011 Wrightbus Gemini-bodied Volvo B9TL.
The full list of Bus Driver of the Year 2024 winners is as follows:
Bus Driver of the Year 2024: Thomas Gilhooley, Lothian East Coast Buses
Runner-up: Raj Viswanathan, Go-Ahead London
Third place: Brian Mackie, Stagecoach East Scotland
Fourth place: Danny Bayley, National Express Coventry
Fifth place: Clive Sutton, First Bus North and West Yorkshire.
Best theory test result: Raj Viswanathan, Go-Ahead London
Best competitor from a depot in England: Raj Viswanathan, Go-Ahead London
Best competitor from a depot in Scotland: Thomas Gilhooley, Lothian East Coast Buses
Best competitor from a depot in Wales: Daryl Jones, First Cymru
Highest placed competitor from an ALBUM member: Thomas Gilhooley, Lothian East Coast Buses
Highest placed competitor from a Road Operators Safety Council member: Thomas Gilhooley, Lothian East Coast Buses.
Highest placed competitor from a London operator: Raj Viswanathan, Go-Ahead London
Second-highest placed competitor from a London operator: Joseph Jay, Go-Ahead London
Highest placed First Bus competitor: Clive Sutton, First Bus North and West Yorkshire
Second-highest placed First Bus competitor: Stuart Beetison, First West of England
Highest placed Go-Ahead Group competitor: Raj Viswanathan, Go-Ahead London
Second-highest placed Go-Ahead Group competitor: Neil Champion, Plymouth Citybus
Highest placed McGill’s Group competitor: Gavin Justice, McGill’s Midland Bluebird
Highest placed National Express competitor: Danny Bayley, National Express Coventry
Second-highest placed National Express competitor: Lee Grantham, National Express West Midlands
Highest placed RATP Dev competitor: Bhim Rai, RATP Dev Transit London
Second-highest placed RATP Dev competitor: Artur Stankiewicz, RATP Dev Transit London
Highest placed Stagecoach competitor: Brian Mackie, Stagecoach East Scotland
Second-highest placed Stagecoach competitor: Mark Goodall, Stagecoach Bluebird.
The Coventry Trophy: Thomas Gilhooley, Lothian East Coast Buses
The John Boxall Medallion: Thomas Gilhooley, Lothian East Coast Buses
The Road Operators Safety Council Award: Thomas Gilhooley, Lothian East Coast Buses
The Unite Trophy: Thomas Gilhooley, Lothian East Coast Buses.
