Cardiff Bus passengers rally to demand much-loved drivers return to Barry
Cardiff Bus passengers rally to demand much-loved drivers return to Barry
RESIDENTS have taken to social media to request two much-loved Barry bus drivers be returned to their regular town route.
Customers also contacted Cardiff Bus directly after long-serving drivers Bill and Jon stopped driving the 97 and 97A Colcot Circular bus.
The drivers, with more than 30 years’ service between them, have been praised for the care and compassion given to those who board their vehicles – going the extra mile with customer care.
But Cardiff Bus said their re-allocation is due to an internal matter, not of its making.
Resident, Diane Jeffery said: “They are always courteous and polite and made sure you were seated before setting off. They always greeted you with a smile, knew all the regulars on the route, and very understanding with my Downs Syndrome on Paul.
Care worker, Sarah Harris said: “Bill’s always looked out for my kids when they were younger if they’d forgotten money and had to get home. My son is 22 now my daughter 18 and they still talk about him. He was part of their life. As a single mum back then with no car I once had no money until I got to go downtown. He literally put a pound in himself and told me to pay on way back. He’s just always helpful, polite, smiling, and chatty. Just what we need. Save Bill who also is amazing with the elderly which is close to my heart as it’s my job. Patience of a saint, he’s got with everyone – even the gobby teenagers.”
Barry Library worker, Tina Haydon said she had emailed Cardiff Bus to show how much love and respect there is in the community for one of its drivers.
She said: “Bill is a really popular bus driver in Barry and much-loved by many people. People are extremely upset that he has been taken off the route and have started campaigning on Facebook to try and get him reinstated. I usually encounter Bill every day in my work life. We love seeing him every day and it just won’t be the same for us if he’s no longer around. When I attended a friend’s father’s funeral a couple of years ago Bill was mentioned, and thanked, by the family during the service for the kindness and assistance he had shown to their father while travelling on his bus. As a family they felt indebted to Bill for the care he had shown their dad, so much so they wanted to express their gratitude. I thought it was a lovely gesture. That Bill can stir up such strong emotions amongst the people he randomly encounters in his working life just shows what a special person he is, in my opinion. He is humble and kind and people warm to his quiet and caring nature. The strength of feeling surrounding Bill being removed from his route is immense amongst us Barrians, and I really feel that Cardiff Bus doesn’t realise the love people have for him. I implore Cardiff Bus to reconsider the decision to remove him from his Barry route. Bill is our bus driver, and we miss him and want him back.”
A Cardiff Bus spokeswoman said: “We have reallocated the two drivers cited that operate on our Barry local routes 97/97A as a result of an internal issue, not of the company’s making. It would be inappropriate to publicly divulge the details surrounding this issue. We have no further comment to make.”
Not a helpful reply.
Who is the customer?
Are services run just for for the convenience of the operator?
Listen and act may not go amiss.
It says a lot about a bus company attitude to customer satisfaction.
Bring our 2 loved drivers back they are missed so much
What a short unresponsive reply from a company that has no compassion and loyalty to their staff and customers…How they are still in business these days is a mystery after yet another multiple million pound bail out from Cardiff council..
Bring back jon lovelock he is a compassionate caring man very helpful and always has a smile in mornings, what ever the weather.
Cardiff bus took them off so Cardiff bus should put them back, we are the customers and we want them back.
Ty very much all barry customers im bills partner, he’s been on that route for 20 years. Loved all his passengers as they did him . Please keep doing what you are amazing, gobsmacked bill is . A massive ty xxx
Bill always looked after me with my mental health. If I was having a bad day he would go out of his way to try and make me smile. I struggle to use public transport but I was always happy to travel when it was bill and Jon on the route. Don’t think I will use Cardiff bus again unless they come bk.
This is appalling. These drivers are part of the community and loved by their regulars. My Mum thinks the world of Bill, who is so helpful, polite, friendly.
Let’s hope common sense prevails and the drivers are returned to their regular routes?
I can smell an interfering middle manager! Back in your box, put the drivers back!!
Im now 30 but for the last couple years of secondary school Bill used to drive the clipper bus to take me and the others kids to school. If you had to be somewhere you know Bill was going to get you there sharpish. In 4 years i dont think he was ever late once. In footballing terms he would be the Cristiano Ronaldo of the buses. Legend.
Bill and John have been part of children’s lifes since they were newborns helping us on and of the buses with prams, pushchairs shopping never see you struggle. My both children have been on the buses since they were first born now in there 20’s .Bill and John always helpful, and go above and beyond. Please bring both drives back onto the 97/97A They are apart of us. They are very much loved and cared about by everyone and always making sure the elderly are okay the children including parents.
My father was the gentleman whose funeral is mentioned above. Since 2013, when my mother was an inpatient at Barry Hospital, he used the bus daily for his visits. John and Bill were sometimes the only people he saw in the day and they always asked about her health. When my Mum passed away, my Dad held it together until John asked after her – this was the first time he cried publicly. Since then, until my father’s own passing, they kept an eye on him, ensuring he crossed the road safely, always a smile and knowing their passengers. In fact, they were going above and beyond, in a way providing social support for those who may not have anyone else.
To remove them from the route will have repercussions that those in charge of Cardiff Bus will never have thought. To say this is an internal matter then state they have no control is contradictory at best. Please listen to your customers and reinstate them to the route.
I’m 28 and I remember bill and Jon driving the busses I got too and from school every single time. They were always lovely and spoke to me and were just consistent always. I looked forward to seeing them and knowing I’d get a smile after a crappy day.
Such a shame that Bill and Jon have been taken off the 97 and 97a. They are both such lovely people. Who know all the regulars and always had a smile on their face. And if we weren’t on the bus they would always wave at my boys as they went passed. My youngest son will often refuse to get on the bus if Jon isn’t on the bus when we are coming home from school so we would have to then get Bills bus. Now we are having to get a taxi! Please Cardiff Bus bring Jon and Bill back.