Staff say fond farewell to popular bus boss

Managing Director of Stagecoach South West, Michelle Hargreaves, was today saying goodbye to her team after being promoted to head up a larger operation in the East Midlands.

Someone who says she has "diesel in her blood", Michelle has been in the business for more than 25 years.

Prior to working in the bus industry, Michelle was a store detective but decided she wanted a complete change of career after an upsetting incident.

Within months of taking her first job as a cashier for Ribble Buses in Blackburn, she passed her bus licence and drove evening shifts to earn some extra money.

"I got my bus licence before I got my car licence and at that time I was the second female bus driver in the depot out of about 140 drivers," she said.

Michelle rapidly rose through the ranks becoming a controller, operations manager, operations director and then, eventually, MD in the South West in 2008, where she was responsible for 900 staff and a fleet of 315 buses.

One of Michelle's last achievements was to oversee an expansion into North Devon after FirstGroup pulled out. She was also instrumental in securing a £4 million fleet of buses for the route which were officially launched last month.

Staff, who were aware of Michelle's imminent departure, secretly arranged to have one of the brand new vehicles named after her as a tribute (pictured).

Michelle is a lifelong Blackburn Rovers fan and still makes a pilgrimage to Ewood Park when visiting family in Lancashire.

Marc Astley, founder of The Exeter Daily, has worked closely with Michelle since stepping down as editor of the Express & Echo.

He said she would be sadly missed by her staff and the business community as a whole.

Marc added: "Michelle is a no-nonsense northerner who isn't afraid to say what she thinks whether you are a union representative or a senior councillor.

"However, she cares passionately about her staff and her industry and is incredibly hard working.

"In my role as editor of the newspaper we crossed swords a few times but she never held a grudge and we have since become good friends.

"I know I speak for very many people when I say I was saddened to learn that she would be moving to pastures new.

"We wish her luck and have no doubt that she will be equally as successful in her new role."