First Bus offers free travel to military, cadets and veterans to celebrate Armed Forces Day
- Free travel to events on the weekend of Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June.
- Ex-military employees at First Bus encouraged to wear uniform while in service
- June adds special significance to events following the 80th Anniversary of D-Day
To commemorate and support Armed Forces Day, First Bus in West Yorkshire is providing ‘FREE BUS TRAVEL’ on the weekend of Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June to serving personnel, cadets and veterans travelling to an organised event.
All anyone has to do to travel free is wear their uniform or medals, show a valid ID card or be wearing the MOD Veteran’s Badge.
First Bus staff who have previously served in the forces are also being encouraged to wear associated military dress while driving in service.
First Bus has strong links to the Armed Forces with a number of employees at its depots having served in the military.
Among them are Simon Scott, a Performance Supervisor at the Bradford depot. He joined up at the age of 17 and spent 10 years in the Royal Engineers including a tour of duty in Iraq and a posting to Germany.
Simon said: “I gained a wealth of skills and talents which I use today in my professional working life but also in my personal life. I made a great many lifetime friends. I am proud to have served my country and Armed Forces Day means a lot to myself and others that swore to protect this nation of ours.”
David Pollard, a driver based at the Hunslet Park depot in Leeds, also enlisted at 17 and during a decade served in three regiments. He began as a Courier in the Royal Logistic Corps before moving to the Adjutant General’s Corps as Staff Clerk and driver and finishing his service in the 1st Battalion of the Devon & Dorset. Tours of duty included Bosnia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Northern Ireland.
David said: “In joining up it has given me the life and family I had wished for.”
In the month that the country marked the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, Armed Forces Day is a chance to show support for those who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to service families, veterans, and cadets. There are many events and services taking place around the region where people, communities and organisations can visit to show their support.
John Roxburgh, Head of Operations for First Bus in West Yorkshire, said: ”This is an important occasion for many people who want to remember family, friends and others who have been lost in military service.
“We have many veterans working for First Bus across our business and we’re very proud of their efforts and sacrifice. This is our way of saying ‘thank you’ to them, as well as honouring all men and women who choose to serve and protect the freedoms our country.”
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