One of the oldest staff members at a Greater Manchester coach company is helping the youngest recruit to earn his spurs – his grandson.
John Gilbody, 73, was thrilled when 22-year-old Louie Mulcair joined Stockport company Belle Vue Manchester after being made redundant from his job during the pandemic.
Louie started as a valeter and made such a good impression with his enthusiasm and abilities that bosses soon offered him the chance to train as a driver.
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Having quickly achieved his qualifications, he was assigned to school bus routes and coach trips.
Louie and John, who both live in Stockport, have teamed up for a number of trips, including taking Manchester City fans to Wembley matches, a wedding party to London and charity bike riders to Blackpool.
The proud grandfather said: “Louie has done very well for himself. He qualified with flying colours, and is now gaining experience across the range of services.
“It’s been great when we’ve been paired together on trips, and I get a lot of pleasure from seeing him thriving in his career.”
With more than 40 years under his belt, John is frequently asked by his colleagues for advice – and none more so than Louie.
He said: “Louie comes and asks me questions about routes he’s been assigned to, and I try to help wherever I can, although he does a lot of the necessary research himself.
“It’s strange to think that, in a way, he is following the career path I took so many years ago.
“I, too, was made redundant, from my job driving bulldozers and other heavy plant in 1979, and I switched to become a bus conductor and then a driver.
“I’ve travelled a lot driving coaches over the years. I’ve been to more than a dozen countries, and I still love the experience of visiting new and different places.”
John joined the company 12 years ago and now mainly works on school bus routes as well as the occasional coach trip.
“Being a driver is a good, secure job and it gives you the opportunity to share experiences and the enjoyment of travel with lots of people, but you need an understanding partner because you can be away a lot of the time,” he said.
He trained with what was then Greater Manchester Transport and moved to its specialist coaching unit Charterplan in 1984.
“Back then, things were very different,” he said.
“The EU had not been formed and, when travelling through Europe you would have to stop at the borders to pay the road tolls and in the currency of the country you were travelling through, as there was no euro.
“At the time, there was no satnavs or Google Maps either – you had to rely on a road atlas and local street maps.
“Due to the distances that we travelled, most jobs were for two men, and I was paired with a driver called Dave O’Connell. We have remained friends over all these years and still keep in touch.”
John added: “My grandson Louie has followed me in similar circumstances. When he was made redundant, I inquired whether there were any vacancies at Belle Vue, and he was taken on as a member of the valeting team.
“After a while, he was asked whether he would like to join the driving team as the company would put him through the driving course to get his PCV licence and Certificate of Professional Competence, and he was very pleased to accept.”
Louie attended Stockport School and then Aquinas College in the town before getting a job in a warehouse. He said: “I’ve been interested in coaches and buses since I was very young, and my grandad would show me his vehicles.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunities given to me at Belle Vue, and I’m really enjoying the varied work that driving offers.
“I’m gaining experience with the help of my grandad, who has a wealth of knowledge. I always go to him with any questions. He gives me advice and information about the routes I am doing when I require it, and the other drivers are always willing to assist me. They also often rely on grandad for advice.
“I’ve been on a few jobs with my grandad where two drivers are required, or two coaches, and I’ve greatly enjoyed the experience of working with him.
“Being a driver is a really good job – you are never doing the same thing every day and it’s fantastic to visit different towns or cities.
“My first European tour was to Noordwijk in the Netherlands with a hockey team, and my grandad informed me that his first European tour was also to Noordwijk, nearly 40 years ago. History is certainly repeating itself!”
John, who is married to Ann, has driven the length and breadth of the UK as well as throughout Europe. His passengers have included professional football and rugby and cricket teams.
“I’ve been very lucky," he said. " It’s a very rewarding career, especially when you know the passengers appreciate what you have done for them.”
And he has these words of advice for other drivers: “Do your research and plan.
Respect your passengers and they, in turn, will respect you and your coach, and be amenable and friendly towards them.”
Phil Hitchen, managing director of Belle Vue, said: “I guess it’s unusual to have a grandfather and grandson in the same driving team. John has been a leading driver with us for over a decade. His attitude and professionalism are first-class, and in 2016 he was a runner-up for the UK coach driver of the year award.
“When I first met Louie, he came across as an outstanding young man and it was a no-brainer to get him trained and qualified. We have many people from the same families working at Belle Vue, which helps to create a close working atmosphere, and John and Louie are no exception.”
