A WINCHESTER man, who has been a bus driver for more than 50 years, was recently honoured by Stagecoach. 

Nick Knight is Stagecoach South's longest-serving employee, having joined its predecessor Hants & Dorset 51 years ago in 1972.

More than 30 long-serving staff were acknowledged after accumulating an impressive 989 years of service between them. They were recognised for their prolonged hard work and commitment over the years at a celebration dinner and awards ceremony at the Langstone Hotel, near Havant.

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The evening featured a dinner followed by presentations made by Stagecoach South's managing director Marc Reddy, who paid tribute to their great contribution.

He said: “Our Long Service Awards provide a great opportunity for us to recognise the loyalty and devotion shown by our many long serving employees, who have all contributed to helping us to develop and shape the company into one of the country's leading bus operators.

“The bus industry can require exceptional levels of commitment from those who work within it and we so value the contribution of all our employees across the business and the support from their partners and families.”

Stagecoach South recently won the Bus Operator of the Year Award at the National Transport Awards.

Mr Reddy added: "This remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the contribution of each one of our team, for their hard work, collaborative efforts, and unwavering dedication to our customers."