First Leeds bus driver who helped woman who slipped named Employee of Year

A First Leeds bus driver who pulled over to help a woman after she slipped over on the pavement as his bus passed by has been named Employee of the Year at its Hunslet depot.
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John Quansah, 48, was driving his usual X84 service from Leeds to Ilkley when he spotted the incident and came to the woman’s aid.

She wrote to the company to thank John, known as ‘JJ’, for his “great compassion and kindness”.

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Another customer described John as “the politest bus driver I have encountered”.

Caption: John Quansah flanked by (from far left Adam Johnson, depot administrator, Alistair Timmis, Chris Munden, depot co-ordinator, Craig Brown, engineering manager and Neil Jackson, staff manager.Caption: John Quansah flanked by (from far left Adam Johnson, depot administrator, Alistair Timmis, Chris Munden, depot co-ordinator, Craig Brown, engineering manager and Neil Jackson, staff manager.
Caption: John Quansah flanked by (from far left Adam Johnson, depot administrator, Alistair Timmis, Chris Munden, depot co-ordinator, Craig Brown, engineering manager and Neil Jackson, staff manager.

These reactions together with numerous other examples of passenger praise over the past year helped earn him the accolade, a spokesperson for First Bus said.

His selection was decided by depot managers in operations and engineering and representatives from Unite the Union from a group of colleagues to have received employee recognition awards over the past 12 months.

John, 48, who lives in Whinmoor, is also celebrating 25 years with First Leeds.

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He said: “I’m simply astounded to be given such high praise by the Hunslet team.”

JJ’s achievement has earned him a rest too, as part of his prize is an additional two days’ annual holiday in the coming year.

Alistair Timmis, Operations Manager at the Hunslet depot, added: “John has an enviable employment record and thoroughly impressive customer feedback, including a long list of commendations.

“He’s always on hand with a suggestion and a willingness to help; the selection panel was unanimous that John was richly deserving of the award.”.

The First West Yorkshire Hunslet depot employs 550 staff and operates some 200 buses in the city.

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