THE oldest coach driver in town is set to close his bus doors for the final time after making the decision to retire.

Mike Bishop, from Whixall near Whitchurch and Wem, has held a PCV license for 60 years and works for Ellesmere’s Lakeside Coaches but has finally decided to fully retire, just two months shy of his 82nd birthday.  

This is after continuously working within the same business since he left school at 15 and joined NCB Motors at Edstaston Garage, Wem in 1957 as an apprentice mechanic. 

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He then passed his PSV test at the age of 21 under the guidance of boss, lifelong mentor and father figure the late Norman Brown after losing his own father when he was aged just five years old.

A spokesman for Lakeside Coaches, which serves towns all over Shropshire and beyond, gave the background to his career and said that the company was ‘incredibly’ proud of him.

He said: “Mike looked upon Norman as a father figure and was provided with valuable guidance and support during his early adult years.

“So much so that Norman and his wife Iris later became Godparents to Mike’s children Mark and Linda.  

“Mike retired from his motor mechanic role aged 65 in 2007, but continued working part time for NCB Motors as one of their coach drivers, helping them provide their contracted services to the then Shropshire County Council.

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“Then, in 2019, when Lakeside acquired NCB Motors, Mike decided to accept the continued offer of part time employment and was retained as one of the drivers working out of their Edstaston Garage depot which is still managed by Paul, one of Norman Brown’s Sons.”

Whixall resident Mike falls just short of being claimed the UK’s oldest bus driver, pipped by Chichester’s Royston Shaw who is still driving at 85.

A spokesman added: “But with his just over 30 years of service for Stagecoach, it is not a patch on Mike’s 60 years of service as a driver in north Shropshire.”