Young in age, wise in stature

One of Damory’s young coach drivers, Matt Vivash, talks to CBW’s Dominic Ward about his experiences as a coach driver

Twenty-one years old. Typically the age that most young people are trying to work out what they want to do in life. But this wasn’t the case for one of Damory’s coach drivers; Matt Vivash.

At 21 years old, he’s at the younger end of the spectrum for coach drivers. Initially, Matt started out doing local bus and school runs, before moving on to coaches and the longer drives as he’s got older. But what he lacks in age, he more than makes up for in experience, wisdom and, most importantly, pride in his work.

The age is a point that Matt mentioned to me: “A few times on rail replacements, some passengers have asked me ‘can I see your licence please? I don’t believe you’re old enough to drive!’ Most of them say it in a joking way, but one person looked at me and I thought he wasn’t going to sit down if I didn’t give him my licence!”

Ever since Matt was young, he’s always wanted to drive coaches and admits that, having driven both buses and coaches, he’s “a coach man through and through.”

I caught up with Matt to find out more about how he got into the industry, what his role sees him doing, what his aspirations are for the future, and to see what makes him tick.

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Passing the test
How did you get into the industry?

Before I applied at Damory, I was a chef. Since I was quite young, I’d always wanted to drive coaches. It was just a matter of waiting for the age limit. The hours as a chef were longer, and I think I did 17 weekends on the trot. Since I joined Damory it’s been a lot better. I’m not too much of an enthusiast, but I definitely take an interest in it.

So you saw a job vacancy advertised there for a bus driver?

Yes. I live near Yeovil and did my training in Poole, so it was always the thought about the commute. But I was based at Morebus in Poole, as that’s who Damory uses for its training.

How long did your training take?

It took roughly about eight weeks. I did the introduction in the first week, and then halfway through you go out onto the roads. It’s Monday-Friday which is great, because you’re on the roads for three weeks straight.

I passed my test in July 2015 – in a DAF SB3000 Van Hool Alizee T8 automatic. The length of the coach is something you have to get used to. The overhangs as well; learning to use them. I’d say I grasped it reasonably well in what was the average time for someone to get used to it.

Do you prefer manuals or automatics, and which is your favourite coach?

The automatics are very nice to drive compared to the manuals. I only got to drive a manual twice within Damory, though they’re all gone now. In terms of my favourite, it’s very close between my current allocated coach and my last one, with my current one being the Plaxton Elite and the one I had before being the Scania Irizar PB. They both have plusses and minuses I’d say, but I’d probably say the Elite is my favourite at the moment. The steering is nice and light, and the brakes are good – you can do a really nice drive. When the passengers get on, it’s got quite a ‘wow’ factor. The seats are really nice and we always get lots of positive comments about them.

The role
What does your role see you doing on a day-to-day basis?

The week before, I’ll get my work tickets for what sort of work I’ll be doing. On a Monday we’ll normally have the Intercruise from Southampton and go to London. It’s a long day but, with London being what it is, it’s always a nice challenge. We’ll do either a panoramic, which they’ll get off the coach for about an hour, and the rest of the time you’re driving round, or we’ll do a bit of a tour, drop them off and they’d go on the river cruise, and then pick them up later. They’re German, so we’ll pick up German tour guides at Fleet Services on the way.

What’s your favourite job to get?

I’m the coach driver for Dorchester Town Football Club. Sometimes it’s quite a long distance drive, which I enjoy, and it’s always the same faces – directors and players. It’s quite nice meeting the same people each week. Last season I did every single away game that they went on. I’d like to think I have quite a good relationship with the team. They want what the premier teams have – they want a coach with tables and Sky TV and this, that and the other; it’s not the easiest thing to attain. We used the PB for all of last season, and we now use the Elites.

Do you do other jobs, such as rail replacement?

We’ve done a lot of rail work in the past. Some of the jobs have been quite challenging. There’s been quite a lot of variety and it’s definitely helped me learn a lot of different towns and cities, with the main road networks leading into them. I got given one that was a 2300hrs start at Effingham Junction to Clapham Junction via 12 stations – places like Raynes Park, Wimbledon and Surbiton. I’ve never really had too much of an issue with frustrated passengers. I’ve had the odd moaner, but most passengers I’ve had have generally understood that it’s work that needs to happen, so they’ve just got on with it. I’ve heard of stories from other drivers having issues, but I seem to have been quite lucky so far. That’s always the thing as well with rail replacement, should you make a mistake, take a wrong turn, or you get lost. People are already quite annoyed that they’re on the coach in the first place – the fact you then get lost is only going to add to that.”

Initial jobs
Before switching to the coaches, what did Damory have you doing?

When I first applied, I was a bus driver. I did that for about half a year. When I passed my test I had a mentor for two weeks, and the first route I drove was the X11 from Dorchester to Yeovil. It was quite a lengthy route and it was definitely an eye-opener. It made me question whether this was for me, because it was driving down single-track lanes, meeting articulated lorries and other buses, and the first run was quite challenging. Then after that I went on to do the number 6, which was probably the smallest route we had, running from Dorchester to Poundbury and driving the Optare Electric Solo. That also had a school run attached to it. The school run was in a coach, so I’d do the 6 in the morning and the school run in the afternoon. I started doing those two for quite a while – getting used to driving and the ticket machines. Bob (Bob Crutchfield, Assistant Operations Manager for Damory) then asked if I was interested in private hire and asked if I wanted to get trained up and do it, so I did and then started doing that.

What did you think of driving the Optare Electric Solo?

There were two of them, and I think one of them didn’t like me! You’d have to let it get itself sorted out, which was a five minute process. Once it was ready, you’d put your foot on the brake and put it into gear – and it just didn’t like going into gear! On quite a few occasions I’d be going round a roundabout and it would just come out of gear and just not go back in.

You’re employed as a coach driver – do you ever keep your hand in doing a local route?

The last time I drove a bus in service was a year ago. I drove a Morebus route – the 13 from Wimbourne to Bournemouth. They were duplicating all the services as it was busy. I drove a DAF-powered Optare Spectra; it was a bit different!

Aspirations
Is there anything you’re looking to do in the industry?

I’m still very much enjoying doing the coach work. There are still a lot of places to see and go I think, and I like my current coach at the moment, so in the near future I’m quite settled with just sort of carrying on as things are now. However, in the more distant future, I’d like to consider something in management. I’d like to go down that path if an opportunity did come up in Damory. It’s always been a good company to work for – I’ve never had any issues.

Area Manager, Adam Keen, is eager to push the coach side of things.

Definitely. Certainly whilst I’ve been there, he’s brought the standards a lot higher than they were before. A lot of coaches have been away for re-trims and the fleet has come a long way. It’s quite sad at the moment though – some of the coaches are up for sale and they’re going. There’s a lot of change going on.

What would you say to someone wanting to follow a similar path to you?

If it’s definitely something you want to do, it’s certainly worth applying and doing the tests. It’s a very enjoyable job if it’s the right thing for you. You’ve got to have the right mind-set for the driving but, if someone wants to do it, it’s definitely worth having a look.

Rallying round
CBW’s Editor Gareth Evans of course, met you at the UK Coach Rally back in May. Was the Rally something you particularly wanted to do?

Adam had said he’s entering the Elite into the Coach Rally, and asked if I wanted to do it. It’s something I’d heard about before and I thought “Yeah; that would be a really nice thing to attend.” I’ve always quite enjoyed the cleaning side, as weird as it may sound, so to be able to do that and show it off at the rally, was something I wanted to do.

Were you aware of the driving test and the road run?

I was aware there was a test aspect to the event. I wasn’t entirely sure on the individual manoeuvres until we got there which, now having done the whole event, if I was ever going to do it again it would definitely pay to put some practice in before going. I should’ve probably looked at the instructions a bit clearer because of the last manoeuvre, where you had to pull into the bay and then reverse back so you’re level with the lines on the kerb. You’re supposed to drive in, but I reversed in because I thought it was a parallel park – never mind! The event was very well organised and it was a really good weekend.

Your navigator at the rally was Gary Harris – do you enjoy working together?

We do quite a lot of jobs together. We get on really well. It makes the day a lot smoother when you both communicate easily, so you get the job done a lot better.

Did the test and timing stage help develop your driving skills?

It was the first time we’ve done anything like that together. With Gary reading out what the next direction was, we had quite good communication. That definitely helped. He’d have to explain it was a like a left turn at such and such, help point out which set of lights it was – it’s not the first or the second, it’s the third – it was quite good.

Then you and Gary had to get the polish gear out ready for the concours d’Elegance?

We began on the exterior. We’d pretty much done all the interior before coming, but obviously we were worried that, coming all the way from Dorchester, it was going to rain and going to be a start from scratch clean. However, we were quite lucky that it didn’t rain at all on the way up. It was only just as we were getting off we could see all the water marks and a little bit of the dirt.

You then came away with both the Top Touring/Express Luxury Coach and Plaxton Trophy awards.

We were most surprised – it was so good. To go there for the first time and to come away with two trophies – I was so proud, and it showed the hard work we’d put into it had paid off.

Do you know if Damory is going to enter the Rally again next year?

I don’t know. I believe Adam has indicated he wants to send an Excelsior coach. I don’t know if they’re getting new vehicles – it might be in March or April. I don’t quite know if we are or not, but I’d like to.

Routemaster
Is there one particular journey that sticks in your mind recently?

I recently returned Routemaster RM9 back to Go-Ahead London’s New Cross Garage all the way from Pimperne. I picked it up on Friday, August 25. I’ve driven a Bristol VR before and it was a very different experience.

However, this Routemaster was a lovely bus to drive. Admittedly driving it that long a distance is a much more tiring experience than a modern day coach but, for its age, it’s very surprising. It can actually go up to 60mph. On the motorway it was flat – it did get to 60, and it didn’t seem to feel out of its comfort zone.

Between 30-40mph, the steering wheel did shake a bit too much, so you wanted to go faster to get it past that! I believe it’s been modified as a ‘Dartmaster’ with an Allison gearbox in it, but everything else in it is original.

The hardest thing probably was the way the mirrors are. It’s difficult to judge where your wheels are because in the offside mirror you could only see the top if cars are next to you, but you couldn’t really tell how close they were.

Apart from that, it was alright. In Damory there’s no shortage of variety to the different vehicles you get to drive.

Final thoughts

From speaking to Matt, it strikes me that he’s a particularly grounded individual, with a great passion for what he does. It also strikes me how modest he is. For example, when paid a complement, Matt simply laughed it off. With passion and character, Matt is proving to be a valuable member of the Damory team.[/wlm_ismember]