I became a bus driver by accident. Now I've been doing it for 30 years

WHETHER it's the morning commute to work or a trip to the local supermarket, every day thousands of us rely on the city’s busy bus services. However, there is often more to the job than meets the eye.

- By DANNY GUTMANN

This year, Arriva bus driver John Kibbey, celebrated his 30th year driving people across the city, but his journey to landing the role was far from conventional.

Having spent his childhood growing up in Childwall Valley in Gateacre, he left Campion Roman Catholic High School in 1982 before taking up a part time role working in a car accessory shop.

However, after finding himself unemployed four years later, a conversation with a friend from Germany landed him on his feet.

He said: “I was always good at art and writing, so one day my German friend was over and suggested I try working for this German firm in the art department, it would involve selecting art work or photos for publication.”

After being convinced by the suggestion, he took the leap and moved to Munich, where he secured a role at CH Beck, one of the country’s biggest publishing houses at the time.

In the years that followed, his European adventure continued as he set off for Sweden and France before he made the difficult decision in 1995 to return home to Liverpool to help care for his mum, Mary, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.