Wales bus driver named best in the country

Thirty-eight-year-old Daryl Jones, who has been with First Cymru for almost 10 years and is based at the company’s Ravenhill depot in Swansea, was named the best competitor from a depot in Wales at the bus industry’s prestigious UK Bus Driver of the Year contest. The title also clinched him a £100 prize. 

Other First Bus results included fifth place in the UK for Clive Sutton from First North and West Yorkshire, and sixth place overall for Stuart Beetison from First West of England’s Weston-super-Mare depot who was also named First Bus’ second best bus driver across the country and scooped a £500 prize.

Doug Claringbold, Managing Director for First Cymru and First West of England, said: “Congratulations to all those who took part in the competition at the weekend, and in particular to Daryl for being named Wales’ best driver, and to Stuart for grabbing sixth place overall and being named the second best bus driver in the whole of First Bus. Both have achieved excellent results which they should be very proud of.

“But it isn’t just about these two colleagues; we had a host of other local drivers from Bristol, Bath, Wales, Worcester and the rest of the West of England also competing, who were all put through their paces against 100 other top drivers across the country. Getting the chance to compete in such a prestigious competition in the bus industry is a great honour for those taking part.”

This was the 56th UK Bus Driver of the Year awards, which are annually held in Blackpool, where competitors are put through their paces in a competition on the seafront that sees them compete for the sought-after Driver of the Year top prize. 

On competition day, those taking part are tasked with working for a fictitious bus company, and are all expected to adhere to the company’s code of conduct, including rules on dress code, drink and drugs policies and its general driving style.

The day simulates the driver’s normal day, with each driver receiving their own personal timetable, and for up to four hours, the Bus Driver of the Year awards operates the most intensive bus service in the UK, with competitors leaving every two minutes on the three-mile course where they are judged for about 20 minutes.