Ellen Smith Tours driver nominated as the 2018 British Coach Driver of the Year

Miriam Unsworth, an Ellen Smith Tours driver, has been nominated as the 2018 Coach Driver of the year.

Cliff Unsworth, who nominated his wife, said: “Though she didn’t realise it then, Miriam’s learning of the trade began on family holidays with her parents going on excursions from a Christian endeavour home in Conway and remembering the excursion leader’s commentary of North Wales.

“In March 1976 Miriam and two other ladies passed their PSV driving test. It made the national and international news.

“This March, Miriam will have been driving coaches for 42 years.

“We met in 1980 whilst both on tour in Bournemouth staying at the Manchester Hotel. We married in 1982 and Miriam became an integral part of our family coach and haulage business.

"Miriam was totally involved, even spending one night under a coach assisting fitting new cam followers to a Bedford YRT.

“In those early years she drove everything from double deckers, Bedford Vals, Leyland Leopards, many without power steering or assisted brakes and clutches.

“Miriam broke away from touring when our family was young, but kept in touch with the industry.

“In 2002 a chance to drive an ‘Edinburgh Tattoo’ became available, she loved it and has never looked back.

“She has saved the lives of two passengers having heart attacks on board the coach.

“She was commended for her quick reaction and calmness as the first on scene when the coach in front was involved in an accident.

“Miriam’s philosophy is that a passenger may have saved up all year for the one holiday and she doesn’t want to be the one to spoil it.

“Miriam doesn’t take her problems to work, she always tries to be pleasant, helpful, jovial and professional, I know this because if anything winds her up I get the brunt off it in our nightly phone calls.

“Miriam has toured every part of the British Isles, including I.OM. I.O.W. & Outer Hebrides.

“On North Wales tours passengers regular comment that they have been coming here all their lives and never had so much information.

“Miriam did a lot of tours at Gilsland Spa which takes in Hadriens wall, so early on she went out with a local coach driver and perfected her knowledge of the area.

“She has a filling cabinet full of files covering everywhere she has toured, but now she uses the internet to research each tour she operates.

“She has a fantastic memory and can read up on a subject or area and convey it to the passengers in a professional manner.

“She is always willing to share and seek information and use local or city guides.

“Miriam will provide her own entertainment including quizzes, piano playing or being the ‘fall guy’ for the resident comedian.

“At each meal time Miriam checks around the dining room to make sure everyone is content, the passengers are reassured by her attention.

“Miriam is a firm favourite with the blue badge guides she meets whilst working the Liverpool cruise ships.”

The final of the 2018 British Coach Driver of the Year on Wednesday 21 March in Blackpool.