After starting out in the industry in 1976, Trevor Best has enjoyed a long and successful career, and retired from Stagecoach in April. We speak to him about his time in the industry and his plans for retirement
Q: How did you come to work in the industry?
A: I left school in 1967 and started work as an apprentice bricklayer. I stuck that for nine years, but I hated the winter outside.
I saw an advert for a bus driver with training given; it was with West Hartlepool Corporation Transport. I rang them and went down on the next Friday, had an interview and was asked to start on Monday. I went out for a test drive the next day, but when I was bricklaying I was driving lorries on building sites, so it wasn’t a problem.
One of the drivers I started with in 1976 recently left with me – we started the same day, and we finished the same day. Today it’s Stagecoach but we worked for all its predecessors. We even liked it that much that in the ‘90s when it was council-owned and they wanted rid, we the employees bought it.
Stagecoach took us over and I’ve been with them ever since. I’ve really enjoyed working for them. I had the attitude at work that I was everybody’s friend – I’d help them and I knew they’d help me.
Q: How has your career progressed over the years?
A: I was a driver for nine years, and then an inspector’s job came up and I thought that I could climb the ladder. In this job I went out on the road, timing buses, checking tickets, and I was in the office, on the telephones and dealing with the public, and was regulating everything.
About 12 years ago I was promoted to Senior Duty Manager. During that time there was also a scheme running during that time that I took over, and that was going into schools with Cleveland Police, and we used to go round every single primary school in the area. We would talk to the children about safety on buses. Over the years we spoke to around 25,000-30,000 children.
The police were so impressed with the job I’d done that they decided to put me in for an award, which I won, and we went to Edinburgh for that. A month later, we were given another award in London by the Minister for Transport, all for this scheme. I also ended up working on the London 2012 Olympic Games, providing transport for the athletes, and we did so well that I was asked to go back and work on the Paralympic Games. I was there a total of nine weeks. This was the highlight of my career. I wouldn’t change a thing and would go back and do it again.
Q: How are you finding retirement?
A: I retired last October from Stagecoach, then thought ‘this is a shock!’ because I’d never had a day out of work. I saw my manager and asked to go back as a driver, and he said I could start in the morning.
I went back for six months with a project in mind – every penny I earned I saved and bought myself a Super Scooter – a Honda Forza 300. I’ve been to the Scottish Borders, Scarborough, Manchester… to ride the bike is freedom. You can go where you please, it’s easy to park, and they’ve got plenty of power – I’m a speed freak!
I retired fully on 30 April, and I’m still in holiday mode. I get to spend more time with my wife and my family – I’ve got two grandchildren. I’m looking forward to plenty of holidays with my wife; we’ve been married for 46 years. We’re together all the time, but it’s never too much – it’s absolutely lovely.
