THE STAGECOACH bus driver from St Andrews who has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s New Year Honours list has spoken of his amazement at the award.
Mike Reid, who is based at the company’s St Andrews depot, was awarded the honour for charitable services in Fife and Angus after raising around £65,000 for good causes over the past 25 years.
The 63-year-old is well known locally for his charity work and has raised thousands of pounds for a number of local and national charities, including Guide Dogs for the Blind, CLIC Sargent and the St Andrews branch of Enable.
Mr Reid said: “To find out I was getting this honour was just amazing.
“It was the last thing I thought about but I’m absolutely delighted.
“I’ve had great support for my charity work from local people and from my colleagues and managers at work, and I would like to thank them all for that.”
Mr Reid, who lives with his wife Pam, began his transport career in 1970 and has worked for Stagecoach since 1985.
He is a driver on services in the St Andrews area, where he is a favourite among passengers and staff.
Stagecoach Group chief executive Sir Brian Souter provided a letter of support for his honour nomination, which was submitted by one of the recipients of his charitable work.
As an experienced bus man, Mr Reid was also selected to drive one of the buses for the Olympic torch relay last year, as Stagecoach supplied the vehicles for the event.
He drove the length and breadth of the country as part of the Olympic and Paralympic torch convoys in advance of the London 2012 games, which he described as a “fantastic experience”.
Stagecoach East Scotland managing director Charlie Mullen said: “Mike is an excellent ambassador for the local community and for the company.
“He has the respect and admiration of passengers and colleagues, and thoroughly deserves to receive this honour.”