Birmingham bus drivers to compete in UK driving final

Two National Express West Midlands (NXWM) drivers from Birmingham will battle it out to be crowned the UK’s best bus driver at a national driving competition next month.

37-year-old Lee Grantham from Kings Norton and 57-year-old Paul Jarvis from Yardley placed first and second respectively at the West Midlands’ biggest bus operator’s own Bus Driver of the Year competition which was held recently in Walsall. Danny Bayley, a National Express Coventry driver, completes a finalist trio for National Express.

Lee is based at the Acocks Green depot and won the UK Bus Driver of the Year title last year. He’s been with NXWM for eight and a half years and drives the number 72 bus service between Chelmsley Wood and Solihull, and the 73 between Heartlands Hospital and Solihull.

Paul has been with the company since 1990 and is based at the Birmingham Central depot. He was the first ever NXWM bus driver to win the UK Bus Driver of the Year competition in 2012 and mainly drives the 94 and 95 bus services between Birmingham city centre and Chelmsley Wood via Ward End.

NXWM is now hoping one of their finalist drivers will be bringing some silverware back to the West Midlands, following Lee’s win in 2023.

National Express West Midlands driver Lee said: “I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed to be the winner of the National Express West Midlands competition three years running and I’m really looking forward to representing the company in the UK final where I aim to retain my 2023 win!”

National Express West Midlands driver Paul said: “I feel proud about getting through the local garage heats and the wider company competition. It was a brilliant day and one of the hardest competitions I’ve done over the years, having qualified in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018!

“I’m excited and honoured to represent the company in September. I really enjoy going to Blackpool to compete in the UK final, as well as meeting other top drivers from all over the country, listening to their experiences and chatting about the challenges at BDOY.”

Sarah East, regional operations director (Midlands) at National Express, said: “As always, our Bus Driver of the Year competition proved popular again this year and all 60 drivers that took part in the local depot heats enjoyed the camaraderie while demonstrating their skills during a tough competition.

“We’re really proud that we’ve got two former UK Bus Driver of the Year winners in our final group this year - Lee and Paul, alongside Danny who will be on the national stage for the first time. 

“They all did brilliantly in our local final and we’ve got high hopes for all three of them. We wish them all the best of luck for the UK final next month. Bring it home!”

60 bus drivers entered NXWM’s Bus Driver of the Year competition, with local heats held at each depot. 17 went on to the local final held in Walsall, where they completed a series of challenges, including driving safely through a chicane, safe distance driving when passing cyclists, bus simulation tests, hazard perception tests, and precise manoeuvres to measure their skills for their vehicle’s front overhang positioning, bay parking and pulling into bus stops.

The top three drivers now go through to the national final, where they’ll compete against other UK bus operators’ best drivers. The 2024 UK Bus Driver of the Year final takes place on 1 September 2024 in Blackpool, where the competition has been held since 1982.

Pictured: The National Express Bus Driver of the Year finalists