• First Bus drivers finish, first, second and third in UK’s ‘Bus Driver of the Year’ competition
• Seven First drivers finish in the top 12

At the UK’s Bus Driver of the Year competition, a high profile event held in Blackpool at the weekend (13 & 14 September), around 120 drivers from across the UK, who had each won local competitions to claim their place at the finals, battled it out to claim the coveted title of ‘Bus Driver of the Year’.

The UK’s leading operator, First Bus, enjoyed a clean sweep at the event, which is considered the ‘Top Gun’ of the bus world. First Bus drivers finished first, second and third – thought to be the first time in the competition’s 48 year history that drivers from a single operator collected the top three positions.

Winning Bus Driver of the Year was First Aberdeen Driver, Jonathan Welch. The 31 year old, who has been a First Aberdeen driver for more than nine years, was competing in the finals for a second time, having finished 22nd in 2012. He said: “I’m extremely proud to have won the competition – it’s certainly the highlight of my career. 

“I was pleased to win the local First Aberdeen Bus Driver of the Year contest, but to have won the national event is simply incredible. The competition was really tough, but despite the pressure I succeeded and I’m delighted with the result.”

Jonathan picked up several trophies, a holiday in London and prize money totalling £2,050 as a result of winning the contest. He added: “Driving is my passion and so it’s great to be able to earn a living doing something that I really enjoy.”

Finishing in second place was First Cymru driver, Peter Mascall and Phil McAvoy, a driver for First in Devon and Cornwall, finished in third place. Meanwhile Alison Owbridge a driver for First in York, finished in 10th position – the highest performing female driver. 

In total 23 First drivers made it through to the finals in Blackpool – seven of those drivers finished in the top 12.

Managing Director of First Bus, Giles Fearnley, said: “This is First’s best ever performance at the UK Bus Driver of the Year competition. The top three drivers in the UK are First drivers and seven of the UK’s top 12 are First drivers. This is great news for the company and reflects our approach to driver training and the fantastic talent and commitment of our drivers right across our operations.

“In particular well done to the UK’s best bus driver, First Aberdeen’s Jonathan Welch, – a superb performance and a fantastic achievement.”

He continued: “The Bus Driver of the Year competition is one of the industry’s stand out events and gives drivers from across the UK some much deserved recognition - they are the unsung heroes of the transport industry.”

Drivers participating in the competition were tested on all aspects of the profession, from practical driving skills to customer care and a 30 question theory test. First drivers to finish in the top 12 were:

• 1st place: Jonathan Welch – First Aberdeen
• 2nd place: Peter Mascall – First Cymru
• 3rd place: Phil McAvoy – First Devon & Cornwall
• 8th place: Philip Connor – First Cymru
• 10th place: Alison Owbridge – First West and North Yorkshire
• 11th place: Andrew Evered – First Bristol and Avon
• 12th place: Tim Scott – First Eastern Counties