Oxford Bus Company worker celebrates 40 years in the job

Two brothers have given more than 60 years of service to Oxford Bus Company, as one of the siblings celebrates his 40-year anniversary.

Andy Seeney linked up with his older brother David when he joined Oxford Bus Company as an apprentice body builder straight from school aged 16.

Mr Seeney started his career at Oxford Bus Company in September 1985, 17 years after his brother joined in 1968, and is now the Body Shop and Asset Improvement Manager.

Eynsham-born Mr Seeney said: “It was good to follow in the footsteps of David and come and work with him. It meant I knew it was a good company to work for.

“I got to work with David for four years, working with him and learning a lot from him. That could be challenging, with him being family, but I enjoyed it.

“The vehicles are different to when I started and how they’re put together has changed. It’s always good to learn new techniques, but it’s just as important to know the older ways of doing things.

“There’s a lot more staff these days and it’s a much bigger business. I enjoy the changes as they bring new challenges.

“My day tends to start off in the garage office, seeing if there are any new vehicles off-road, and then working a plan of action from there.

“Facilities is a big part of my job, along with refurbishments and improvements. Each day is a new day in this job, and I like that.

“I like to have a new challenge to come into rather than be doing similar things each day. It might be body repairs, sprays or the graphics on the buses which need sorting out.”

Mr Seeney was rewarded for his 40 years of service at Oxford Bus Company’s recent annual Really Amazing Awards.

He said: “It’s good going to those awards evenings. It used to be just Oxford Bus Company, but now there’s Thames Travel, Carousel [Buses], Pearces Coaches and Pulhams, and the chance to meet and see a lot of people from other parts of the business who you might not know as well.

“It’s always been a good team effort and never been about just me or someone else. People always get together to help each other, and it’s a real team effort every day.”

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, praised Mr Seeney for his commitment and dedication to the business over four decades.

He said: “Andy has given an exceptional number of years’ service to the company and should be immensely proud of what he has achieved.

“A real team player, Andy has a brilliant can-do approach, always getting stuck in and delivering.

“He’s a hugely dependable and reliable member of the team and, in recent years, has played an important role with the introduction of electric charging infrastructure at the Cowley depot.”

Oxford Bus Company, part of the Go-Ahead Group, operates a comprehensive network of services in Oxford, including four Park & Ride routes, and the airline coach service to Heathrow and Gatwick Airports. 

The business employs more than 600 people, operating from the Cowley House depot on Watlington Road.