Abus Limited has announced the death of popular driver Phil Reason, aged 71. He is survived by his wife June and daughter Louise.
Phil joined Abus when the company was formed in 1991 and worked on the Bristol/Keynsham service until giving up driving in September 2014.
Phil was enormously popular with passengers on the Keynsham service, being nominated for ‘bus driver of the year’ by Bus Users UK and also being given a ‘community champion award’ by the local MP, Dan Norris.
It is estimated that Phil completed almost 42,000 journeys on the Keynsham service.
He made a huge contribution to the success of Abus and he became a personal friend who will be sadly missed by all at the company.
Phil was a qualified class one football referee, who continued to referee in the Bristol downs league until earlier this season.
He was also a Bristol City supporter and often drove the football buses to attend matches.
His funeral will be held at Westerleigh crematorium on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 1330hrs and afterwards at Keynsham Royal British Legion.
A bus will run to the funeral, leaving Brislington at 1215hrs, Keynsham Temple Street at 1230hrs and Keynsham Church at 1245hrs.
