Star bus driver nominated for national award

Alma Cox could win the Top National Bus Driver award at the UK Bus Awards next month

An experienced bus driver has been shortlisted for a national award after scooping her company's Star of the Year gong for an unprecedented second time.

Alma Cox, who works for Reading Buses, said she took to driving buses easily after a try out at the company's depot and left a job in retail soon afterwards.

"I drove [a bus] around the yard and I was like a duck to water. I just thought: 'I'm going to go for it, this is great,'" she said.

She has been shortlisted for the Top National Bus Driver at the UK Bus Awards, which will be held in London in November.

Reading Buses, which is also up for Top Shire Operator and the Marketing for Growth prizes at the awards ceremony, said bosses were "especially thrilled" for their driver.

"I love it. I have been doing it such a long time," she told BBC Radio Berkshire. "I just really like people feeling comfortable and I just find it natural – smiling at people every day and making everyone's day. It's just how I am."

She added: "It's nice just to make a bit of an effort, just to make [customers'] day, with a simple smile or having a quiet little chat with them if I've got time. They go off happy and I'm happy because they're happy."

Robert Williams, Reading Buses' chief executive, said: "We are thrilled to be shortlisted for three awards at the prestigious UK Bus Awards, but are especially thrilled for Alma. She has worked for the company for over 25 years and her enthusiasm and sunny disposition remains undimmed.

"She consistently receives lots of customer compliments, her mystery traveller scores are always excellent and she always scores highly on our internal driving measurements."