Son to follow in father’s footsteps

A chance conversation revealed the remarkable fact that the son of the winner of the inaugural Bus Driver of the Year competition in 1967 is set to take part in this year’s event.

Darren Dunbar, Driver Training Officer at National Express Coventry, was browsing through the past winners on the BDoY website along with one of the drivers. They discovered that the winner of the first competition was Anthony Moore of Coventry City Transport, who also went on to win again in 1968, while accumulating several medals for safe driving.

Only then did it become apparent that the driver Darren was speaking with is Anthony Moore’s son, Tony Moore.

Sadly, Anthony Moore, a conductor for three year and driver for 33 years, passed away on 7th March this year and his funeral was on 9th April.

Anthony Moore, the first Bus Driver of the Year

However, his son, Tony, who coincidentally clocked up 33 years of service this year, has decided to enter the Bus Driver of the Year competition for the first time as a tribute to his father.

He will need to progress through the initial rounds at National Express Coventry first, but he is looking forward to the challenge and the prospect of participating in the National Final in Blackpool on 6th September. BDoY Competition Secretary Paul MacKay reports that currently 88 drivers from 35 companies have been entered for the National Final. However, there is still time for companies to beat the registration deadline, which is 30th April.

Darren Dunbar is a Driver Training Officer at National Express Coventry. He is a former BDoY competitor, achieving fifth place in 2010, and more recently has been involved as a marshal.