Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire Honours Veterans With Free Travel On VE 80 Day

• Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire is offering free travel for military, ex-military and cadets on VE 80 Day
• This follows Stagecoach’s ongoing commitment to recognising the heroic work and sacrifice of serving members and veterans of the Armed Forces, by offering free travel each Armistice Day

Stagecoach, the UK’s leading bus operator, is providing free bus travel on Thursday 8 May, to serving military, veterans, and cadets across its services in Barrow, Carlisle, Kendal & The Lakes, Lancaster, West Cumbria and surrounding areas, this VE 80 Day.

VE Day commemorates the end of World War II in Europe on 8 May 1945. The day honours the bravery and sacrifice of those who served, and is a time for reflection, remembrance and national pride on the 80th anniversary.

Eligible individuals – those in uniform or carrying a military ID, veteran’s with a veteran’s badge or medal, and cadets in uniform – can travel free on all Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire buses. This support will allow them to attend local VE Day events and commemorations.

This initiative is backed by Stagecoach’s employee-led Veterans Network, created to unite colleagues with shared experiences, amplify their voices, drive positive change, and help shape business decisions - introducing new ways of working to make the company even stronger.

In recent years Stagecoach has shown its support to the Armed Forces community by also allowing free travel over Armed Forces Weekends and Remembrance Days.

Mark Blacklock, a driver for Stagecoach from Egremont, served with the Royal Navy from 2000 to 2011 but was medically discharged with a shoulder injury then spent five years looking for a job he would enjoy before joining Stagecoach.

Now 47, Mark served on board HMS Grimsby, HMS Quorn, HMS Clyde and HMS Illustrious, including several operational tours in Iraq. He is the veterans’ champion for Stagecoach’s Lillyhall Depot at West Cumbria.

He said: “When it's VE Day or any other military remembrance, it's a chance to thank all service men and women who served in all conflicts.

“For those that came home to loved ones and those that didn't. Back then people were being drafted for service and some had no choice but to serve. I had a choice and wanted to serve my country and the military made me the man I am today.”

Tom Waterhouse from Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire said: “We’re incredibly proud to employ many veterans, and it’s a privilege to recognise the bravery and dedication of our Armed Forces, cadets, and veterans.

“Offering free travel on VE 80 Day is a small gesture of appreciation for the enormous contribution made by our service men and women, past and present.”

Stagecoach has also been a member of the Armed Force Covenant since March 2015, recognising the value of serving military, regular and reservists, veterans and military families to both the country and businesses across the country.

For a full list of events happening across the country, please visit https: //ve-vjday80.gov.uk/events

The offer is available to all military and ex-military, excluding services operated by Megabus, TfL, and the Bee Network.

Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire operates a fleet of 330 buses, serving communities across Barrow, Carlisle, Kendal & The Lakes, Lancaster, West Cumbria and surrounding areas.