Third time’s a charm for Bus Driver of the Year winner
Thomas Gilhooley of Lothian East Coast Buses has won at the finals of the Bus Driver of the Year. It is the third time he has competed at
“It was a big surprise when my name was announced as winner” – Thomas Gilhooley, Bus Driver of the Year 2024
the finals, which were held yesterday (1 September 2024) in Blackpool.
The 63-year-old went home with the BDoY trophy and £4,600 prize money. He has been a driver based at Musselburgh depot for over six-and-a-half years and is allocated to a variety of East Lothian routes. Although clearly benefiting from the experience of two previous BDoY National Finals, including third in 2023, he said: “It was a big surprise when my name was announced as winner.”
Willie Hamilton, Operations Director for Lothian, said: “We are thrilled that Thomas has been named the Overall Winner of the UK Bus Driver of the Year event.
“The standard across the weekend was extremely high and our three representatives once again displayed the skill and professionalism our drivers are known for throughout the industry.
“On behalf of everyone at Lothian, congratulations to Thomas on his victory and thank to you Thomas, John and Harvey for showing the rest of the UK what Lothian does best.”
Runner-up was another regular participant, Raz Viswanathan of Go-Ahead London, winning the BDoY Trophy and £3,800.
In third place was Brian Mackie of Stagecoach East Scotland, fourth place went to Danny Bayley of National Express Coventry, while Clive Sutton of First North & West Yorkshire was fifth.
Phil Smith, Chairman of ROSCO, presented the awards at a ceremony in The Imperial Hotel.
Joe Mackie, Chairman of the UK Bus Driver of the Year Association, congratulated all the trophy winners and thanked the dedicated volunteers who make the competition possible and the industry sponsors for their generous financial support.
BDoY National Final 2024 – the results
Bus Driver of the Year: Thomas Gilhooley, Lothian East Coast Buses
The Coventry Trophy – donated by Coventry Road Accident Prevention Council
The Road Operators Safety Council Award and £1,500
The Unite Trophy and £1,500
The BDoY Trophy
The John Boxall Medalion
Highest-placed competitor from a ROSCO company and £500
Highest-placed competitor from an ALBUM company and £1,000
Highest-placed competitor from a depot in Scotland and £100
Runner-up: Raj Viswanathan, Go-Ahead London
BDoY Trophy and £1,500
Best Theory Test Result and £300
Highest-placed competitor from a depot in England and £100
Highest-placed Go-Ahead competitor and £1,000
Highest-placed London Buses competitor and £1,000
Third Place: Brian Mackie, Stagecoach East Scotland
BDoY Trophy and £1,000
Highest-placed Stagecoach competitor and £1,000
Fourth Place: Danny Bayley, National Express Coventry
BDoY Trophy and £750
Highest-placed National Express competitor and £1,000
Fifth Place: Clive Sutton, First North & West Yorkshire
BDoY Trophy and £500
Highest-placed FirstBus competitor and £1,000
Highest-placed competitor from a depot in Wales and £100: Daryl Jones, First Cymru
Highest-placed RATP Dev competitor and £1,000: Bhim Rai, RATP Dev Transit London
Highest-placed McGill’s competitor and £500: Gavin Justice, McGill’s Midland Bluebird
Second-highest-placed Stagecoach competitor and £500: Mark Goodall, Stagecoach Bluebird
Second-highest RATP Dev competitor and £500: Artur Stankiewicz, RATP Dev Transit London
Second-highest National Express competitor and £500: Lee Grantham, National Express West Midlands
Second-highest London Buses competitor and £500: Joseph Jay, Go-Ahead London
Second-highest Go-Ahead competitor and £500: Neil Champion, Plymouth Citybus
Second-highest FirstBus competitor and £500: Stuart Beetison, First West of England
Best-presented buses in use at the National Final:
The Bryan Constable Award
(a) Newly delivered or up to one-year old, First Manchester, Midlands & South Yorkshire BN24 2WV
(b) One-to-five years old, Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire YX23 OVL
(c) Over five years old, Lothian Buses SN11 EAM