Bus driver a lifeline for pensioners

Pride in Oldham nominee, bus driver Georgina Carroll.

A bus driver who turns a trip to town into a lifeline for the elderly has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

Georgina Carroll has driven Stagecoach buses for 14 years — the past three on the 183 route.

The service, tendered by Oldham Council, starts at the Royal Oldham Hospital and runs through Coppice, Hollins and Limeside with many elderly people using it to get to appointments or go to Oldham town centre.

Regular passenger and retired nurse tutor Anne Frost, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday, nominated Georgina for her dedication to her customers.

She said: “She cares a lot about her passengers and is very pleasant and considerate to all of them.”

Mum-of-three Georgina, who lives in Stalybridge, works part time and is the only driver on that route during her working day.

As a result, she gets to know regular passengers and takes extra special care of them.

She said: “I have lots of old people using the service and for many its their only way of getting out and about. I might be the only person they speak to that day so I always have a chat with them and I help them on and off the bus.

“Its a very hilly route with lots of turns so I make sure I take my time.

“I really love my job and I’m honoured to have been nominated for a Pride in Oldham.”