Arriva Tamworth has unveiled a bus in its former Midland Red livery, last seen on Staffordshire’s streets in the 1990s, to mark the retirement of its Stores Administrator John James.
Mr James has been with the business for 35 years.
The Midland Red bus will serve routes across the network through the rest of 2019.
Simon Mathieson, Area Managing Director at Arriva Midlands North, says: “John is a busman through and through.
“He has dedicated so much of his life to buses, not just in his day to day work, but also through volunteering at the Transport Museum Wythall, where I know he is looking forward to spending more time working on his heritage vehicles.
“He is going to be sorely missed by everyone at Arriva, but he’s very much earned his retirement after so many years of dedicated service. He may be gone, but he will not be forgotten as our Midland Red heritage bus will serve as a very poignant and special reminder of his time here. We wish him every happiness in the future.”
The Tamworth depot on Aldergate was previously owned by Midland Red, and latterly Midland Red North until it was sold in 1988. It later came under the ownership of the Cowie Group which was renamed Arriva in 1997.
