Twelve Cumbrian staff of travel firm Stagecoach were among those recognised for their long service with the company.
A total of 18 staff were acknowledged on Friday evening at an event at Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa in Windermere.
Among them was 53-year-old Stephen Temple who was born and bred in Carlisle and has worked as a coach painter in Stagecoach’s Carlisle engineering department for 25 years.
He said: “I have done the same job for a very long time now. There have been a lot of changes, but some memorable moments along the way. After the 2005 Carlisle floods we had a visit from the then Prince Charles. I got to have a brief chat with him, he was very nice and easy to talk to.”
Stephen said he was honoured to have been recognised in the long service awards. He added: “Stagecoach don’t have to have these awards, but they choose to. It is nice to be appreciated for your service by your employer and be treated to a lovely evening and night away in such a nice hotel.”
Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire managing director Rob Jones said: “A huge congratulations to Stephen and to everyone who received a long service award on Friday evening.
“To have all that experience together under one roof and to have the opportunity to personally thank people for supporting the company, each other and – most importantly – our passengers over the decades is such a fantastic achievement.”
Head office
- Lynn Farish, directors’ PA – 30 years
- Edwin Kruger, commercial officer – 30 years
Barrow depot
- Angela Herdman, engineering clerk/storekeeper – 30 years
Carlisle depot
- Jimmy Ross, retired driver – 22 years
- Stephen Temple, coach painter – 25 years
- Aileen Boyd, retired driver – 30 years
- George Goode, retired storekeeper – 48 years
Kendal depot
- Paul Smurthwaite, driver – 30 years
- Stephen Todd, retired driver – 35 years
West Cumbrian depot
- Neil Dixon, driver – 25 years
- Richard Simpson, driver – 25 years
- Michael Johnston, driver – 35 years
