Having remained in his post with the company until as recently as Friday 23 May, it was with sadness that the industry learned of the passing of Go South Coast Managing Director and passionate transport industry champion Andrew Wickham MBE on Monday 26 May.
Well known as a proponent of bus travel and with a passion and love for the industry, his passing after a long illness was met with deep sorrow among his colleagues, and CBW joins with Go-Ahead Group in sending our condolences to his family and wide circle of friends. An inspirational professional and devoted family man, Andrew dedicated his entire working life to the transport industry, remaining at the Go South Coast helm until the very end, where his enthusiastic leadership style drove forward the entire Go South Coast team with his vision to improve services and increase the popularity of bus travel. As Go South Coast said in the days following the news, he achieved this and so much more during his tenure, with the number of people travelling by bus along the south coast now among the highest in the UK. Andrew recently received an MBE, presented by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, for services to the bus industry, with his career spanning almost 40 years. He graduated from Aston University in the West Midlands in 1987 with a BSc (Hons) in Transport Operation and Planning, having joined Brighton Borough Transport in 1986, whilst still at university.
Andrew went on to hold various roles across the country ˜ including at London General Transport Services and Plymouth Citybus. In 2011 he was appointed Managing Director of Go-Ahead Group-owned Go South Coast, consisting of Southern Vectis on the Isle of Wight, Morebus, Unibus, Bluestar, Unilink, Salisbury Reds, Swindon’s Bus Company, Damory, Tourist Coaches, Excelsior Coaches, and Hants & Dorset Trim. Under Andrew’s leadership, Go South Coast received many accolades on numerous occasions. When asked for the secret behind his extraordinarily successful career, he was always humble, repeatedly citing the monumental efforts of his team members.
Speaking about his career and successes, Go-Ahead said that Andrew, who was also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, leaves an outstanding legacy. He leaves the business in a very strong position, with a successful team, lots of whom have worked alongside him for many years, committed to ensuring Go South Coast remains one of the strongest bus operators in the UK now, and for many years to come.
In the immediate future, Finance director Ben Murray will take the reins as Interim Managing Director at Go South Coast, supported by the Go-Ahead Group, pending the appointment of a new permanent managing director.
