Friday 29 October 2010

Last week of October

A long week this week and so much news!

Firstly on Monday we learn of Keith Ludeman's retirement as Chief Executive of Go Ahead; we've had business announcements from Arriva and Go Ahead (our own interim results are next week), and then today Friday we recognised the last day of Sir Moir Lockhead as Chief Executive of FirstGroup plc.

In a surprise event in Aberdeen our new Corporate HQ was named "The Sir Moir Lockhead Building" in his honour. Opened earlier this year by HRH Princess Anne our new building is now able to house all our Aberdeen staff including those previously in offices elsewhere in the city.

Besides being in Aberdeen I have been in Germany this week in glorious sunshine. We have just taken in some more Citaros from Berlin (see photo) and imminently some brand new vehicles for our contract in Bad Vilbel near Frankfurt.
I couldn't be there myself but we have had one of our existing Citaros based in Slough on the site of the new Slough Bus Station. The old 1970s building is being demolished and in its space a new swish bus station is under construction. A rare photo here shows Citaro ES64038 on site testing clearances.


And next week? Well on Sunday I am sure I will see you at the closure event of Cobham Bus Museum. I have been associated with this since its inception in the early 1970s and indeed was a Director for a while. The current team has secured a new site and a new building at nearby Brooklands where it will be one of several attractions and open daily. It will be sad to see the old place go but the new one will be beyond the wildest dreams of the original founders.

And then of course it is Euro Bus Expo, our major trade show at NEC Birmingham for three days Tuesday to Thursday where we will see the latest offerings from the manufacturers. This is not just whole vehicles but also everything that goes with it in terms of technology, components and systems.

So you'll get a couple of updates early in November for sure!

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