EIGHT employees from Stagecoach Manchester’s Sharston depot celebrated a collective 265 years of service at the company’s annual Long Service Awards.

Director, Peter Sumner, and driver, John Ward, from Altrincham,, have both clocked up an impressive 45 years of service with the company, while Stretford resident Colin Williamson, who is also a driver, has been recognised for 40 years of service. Stagecoach Manchester bus drivers Ronald McAdam and Joseph Smith, from Urmston, were thanked for 30 years of service and fellow drivers Simon Bell, Eric Lane and Desmond Young were each commended for 25 years of work.

The eight Stagecoach Manchester staff were presented with their awards by, Kate Green, MP for Stretford and Urmston at The Lowry.

Elisabeth Tasker, Stagecoach Manchester managing director, said: “Our dedicated Sharston employees have contributed decades of their working life to Stagecoach and it is through their commitment that we are able to maintain our impeccable reputation and remain one of the country’s leading bus operators.”

“The Long Service Awards is an annual celebration of employees who have worked with us for 20 years or more and the least we can do to say ‘thank you’ for their hard work, while showing them how much we appreciate their commitment to Stagecoach Manchester.”