First names coach after celebrity golfer

FirstGroup has named one its DAF-powered Temsa Safari coaches after Paul Lawrie ‘Aberdeen’s most celebrated golfer.’

The Aberdeen-based group is one of the sponsors of Lawrie, who won the Qatar Masters two weeks ago.

FirstGroup’s marketing manager, said the coach is one of the newest in the coach fleet and is primarily used for private hire – weddings, shopping trips, holidays – and transports the Aberdeen FC first team.

“My hope is, as the coach passes through cities, towns, villages and the countryside throughout Scotland, it will remind people Paul is one of the finest golfers Scotland has produced,” she said.

“We are delighted to be one of Paul’s sponsors. We have also supported his Junior Golf Foundation for seven years. Paul is a tremendous ambassador for golf in Scotland and given his recent achievements we wanted to demonstrate how proud we are of him.”

Paul Lawrie said: “I’m both astonished and very surprised with the gesture from First. The company has been hugely supportive over the years, but the last thing I expected on my visit here today was a coach named in my honour. I am very humbled by the gesture.”

He added: “I was also taken aback by the number of First staff who came out today to offer their congratulations and best wishes.

“It was a good opportunity to thank the company and its staff for their fantastic support.”