Longstanding bus figure and Network Rail Chair Peter Hendy, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, has been named New Londoner of the Year at the New London Awards 2023. The honour is in recognition of his contribution to the capital and his work in London’s public transport sector.
Lord Hendy received the accolade at a presentation evening on 15 November. He was praised for his dedication to delivering high standards in public transport in London, and his leadership previously at Transport for London (TfL) and now at Network Rail.
In addition to that work, Lord Hendy is sponsor of the rapidly growing Women in Bus and Coach Network, which launched nationally recently, and he has long been involved in the Imberbus charity running day that is centred on the closed village of Imber in Wiltshire.
He is also a Trustee at the London Bus Museum, and prior to moving to TfL held senior roles with FirstGroup and one of its predecessor constituents, bus operator CentreWest. His career began with London Transport in the 1970s.
Speaking about the New Londoner of the Year 2023 award, Lord Hendy says: “I have spent my career, or at least the latter part of it, at TfL and Network Rail, making the case for public transport connectivity, which creates growth, jobs, housing, social cohesion, and sustainability. Connectivity makes places, and better connectivity makes better places.
“I am following the wise advice that if you’re given a big organisation, your job is to look after it, make it a success, and leave it for others better than you found it.
“I hope I did that at TfL, and I am trying to do that at Network Rail and London Legacy Development Corporation. And when I do step down, then I can properly sit in the House of Lords and remind those in government that ought to be their mantra, too.”