Reigning Bus Driver of the Year Lee Grantham (pictured, second from left) of National Express West Midlands (NXWM) will return to Blackpool for the 2024 national final on 1 September after winning the operator’s in-house competition.
Mr Grantham is one of three entrants into this year’s national final from NXWM. He works out of Acocks Green garage and will be joined in Blackpool by Paul Jarvis (pictured, left) of Birmingham Central depot and Danny Bayley (pictured, right) from Coventry garage, who finished second and third respectively in the operator’s competition.
Mr Jarvis is also a former national Bus Driver of the Year, having taken the title in 2012. 60 of NXWM’s own drivers participated in this year’s in-house contest and local heats were held at each depot.
17 finalists then completed a series of challenges including driving safely through a chicane, safe distance driving when passing cyclists, bus simulation tests, hazard perception, and precise manoeuvres to measure their skills for front overhang positioning, bay parking, and pulling into bus stops.
Speaking about his latest victory, Mr Grantham says: “I am feeling pretty overwhelmed to be the winner of the National Express West Midlands competition three years running, and I am really looking forward to representing the company in the UK final, where I am to retain my 2023 win!”
Present at the in-house Bus Driver of the Year contest held by NXWM was National Express Regional Operations Director (Midlands) Sarah East (pictured, second from right).
She says: “As always, our Bus Driver of the Year competition proved popular again this year and all 60 drivers that took part in the local depot heats enjoyed the camaraderie while demonstrating their skills during a tough competition.
“We are really proud that we have got two former UK Bus Driver of the Year winners in our final group this year – Lee, and Paul, who was the first ever National Express West Midlands driver to win back in 2012
“It is Danny’s first time on the national stage, and he did brilliantly in our local final, so we have got high hopes for all three of them. We wish them all the best of luck for the UK final next month.”
