A popular and recognisable morris dancing bus driver in Bristol, who died from Covid in 2020, has had a bus named after him on his usual route - and it's being launched in a unique way. For Martin Egan's fellow members of the Bristol Morris Men will be taking the bus on his usual route through Cadbury Heath, Kingswood and Hanham into Bristol city centre on Saturday, and dancing at stops along the way, to pay tribute to their much-loved colleague.
Martin was a well-known driver in east Bristol and Kingswood - easily recognisable for his huge beard and larger-than-life character. He contracted Covid in the first stages of the pandemic, and tragically died from the virus in 2020.
Two years on, and First West of England have named one of their buses after Martin, and will be taking it and his fellow Morris Men on a tour this Saturday, bringing the ancient English folk dance to passengers and passers-by in tribute to him.
Read more: First Bus apologises as it struggles to provide services because of Covid
Martin started working as a bus driver in Bristol back in 1980 at the old Muller Road depot, before moving to Lawrence Hill, where he was a regular on the City Lines covering the east of the city.
He was also a long-standing member of the Bristol Morris Men, the longest established 'side' of morris dancers in the city, and travelled the country dancing with his friends. After his death, First dedicated a bus to his memory, and it is this bus that the Bristol Morris Men will take on the tour through east Bristol. The bus will be driven by Martin's friend and fellow First driver Brod Gilbert, and the dancers will be collecting money during the day for St Peter's Hospice.
“Martin was a larger than life character and we miss him very much," said Grant Glanville, the squire of Bristol Morris Men. "It is fitting that we celebrate his life through the dancing that he loved so much and also on one of the routes he was so happy driving on. This will be very much a Celebration Tour and we look forward to performing in his memory.”
Covid hit bus drivers in Bristol hard, with many tragically dying from the virus, other suffering from long-Covid and more seriously ill. Even now, First Bus issued a warning and apology this week that so many of its drivers were contracting the virus that services were continuing to be severely impacted, as it was creating a staffing crisis.
On Saturday, the first dance will take place at Cadbury Heath where the dancers and the bus are meeting at 10am. The next stop on the Morris Dancing tour will be at Kingswood at 11.15am, and then at the Maypole in Hanham at 12.15pm. The tour climaxes with a dance at The Centre in Bristol at 2.30pm, before returning to Cadbury Heath at 5pm.
First West of England's managing director Doug Claringbold said everyone was devastated at Martin's death. "Martin was a very well-liked and respected member of the team, who were devastated when he passed away.
"Whilst this event causes us to reflect on the critical role our bus drivers selflessly played during the pandemic when they were absolutely on the front line serving key workers, it’s also a joyful way to remember Martin personally," he added.
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