At the recent UK Bus Awards it was an absolute pleasure to be on the same table as the legendary Keith Thomas, one of the UK’s top bus drivers. Keith’s story is quite incredible, which is why we chose to feature him in this month’s blog post.

Here’s why Keith is truly one in a million:

He’s proof that life doesn’t stop after illness

At 58, Keith lives with a permanent colostomy bag, but that hasn’t slowed him down one bit. He works a 40-hour week, driving hundreds of miles and carrying thousands of passengers. He loves his job, and never complains.

He’s a social media star

With 3,156 Twitter followers (@keiththom2014) and more than 53,000 positive tweets over five years, Keith brings his energy and optimism online, too.

He’s a film star with a loyal following

Back in 2018, Understood made a short film about Keith’s life. It’s inspired thousands of First Bus colleagues and has racked up over 7,000 views on Twitter!

He’s a fundraising force

Over the past three years, Keith has raised more than £8,700 for 15 different charities. His efforts include 5km, 7.5km, and 10km walks, a 5km run, a breathing workshop, a boxing gym experience, and even climbing South Wales’ highest peak, Pen y Fan, in under an hour. One year, he raised £3,700 through a daily “selfie challenge.”

He’s a trophy magnet

• Keith’s shelves are packed with accolades:
• Bus Driver of the Year, 2019 Wales Transport Awards
• Silver Award, UK Bus Awards Driver of the Year
• Highly commended (twice), Llanelli Star Awards
• Nominated three times, First Cymru Excellence Awards
• Fundraiser of the Year, 2017 Marie Curie Awards

He’s a customer service champion

Keith treats every customer with respect, kindness, and care. As he puts it:

“My mission is to give everyone who travels on my bus a safe, pleasant journey, getting them to their destination on time, with a smile along the way.”

Who says bus drivers are grumpy?

Thank you, Keith, for all you do, and for showing us the impact one person can make. At Understood, we love celebrating the everyday heroes on the front line. If you know someone whose story deserves to be shared, we’d love to hear from you.

Talk to us, explore our website, read our blog, and follow us on LinkedIn to learn more and discover ways to grow a more successful business.