Unsung hero of Brighton and Hove buses up for award (From The Argus)

Unsung hero of Brighton and Hove buses up for award

11:30am Friday 28th September 2012 in News By Neil Vowles

He has worked for Brighton and Hove Bus Company for a staggering 42 years.

Now operations manager Ron Hayes has been nominated in the unsung hero category of this year’s Bus Awards ahead of 300 entrants from across England and Wales.

Mr Hayes, from Cross Road, Southwick, has been working with the bus company since he was a teenager and became the youngest inspector in the country when he was promoted at the age of 27 in 1979.

He said he had a long fascination with buses and as a six-year-old he used to run to the bus terminus in Southwick Green to change the blinds on the buses.

Mr Hayes said: “I’m absolutely chuffed to be nominated.

“I didn’t get an education like people have now. Schooling was different then but I’m not embarrassed about that.

“I’ve worked my way up through the ranks.

“I have an affection for buses, I like people and I’d like to continue in the role for at least the next four years.”

Delighted Managing director Roger French, who put forward Mr Hayes’s name for consideration, said: “I’m delighted that Ron has been nominated. He really is an unsung hero.

“He has worked his way up from being a conductor to operations manager.

“He starts work at four o’clock in the morning and makes sure everything is out on the road as it should be.”

Brighton and Hove Buses isn’t the only transport company in Sussex with reason to cheer.

Crawley-based Metrobus, which operates in West Sussex, has attracted four nominations, including one for shire operator of the year.

The company has also been nominated in the marketing excellence category for a campaign in Horsham and its Crawley depot is nominated in the top national depot while driver John Russell has been nominated in the top national bus driver category.

The 2012 UK Bus Awards will be presented at a lunchtime ceremony on November 20 at the London Hilton.

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