Stagecoach Driver Honours Family Legacy with Poppy Bus Tribute on Remembrance Day

This Remembrance Day, a Andover Stagecoach driver, Andrew Down, paid tribute to those who served by decorating the inside of his bus with poppies, creating a space of remembrance for his passengers. Inspired by the stories of his grandparents and great-grandparents, he wanted to honour their legacy and the sacrifices of so many others as he travelled his route, carrying passengers and memories through town.

His great-grandfather served on the front lines in World War I, a story that has been passed down through generations as part of his family’s wartime history. Years later, his grandfather—a skilled factory worker in a reserved occupation—played his own role on the home front during World War II. Although exempt from combat, his grandfather’s contributions were critical to the war effort, especially as the family endured the London Blitz. One of their most enduring family stories recounts the early hours of September 11, when a German bomb struck their home in Peckham. Miraculously, the Anderson shelter’s sturdy porch absorbed the worst of the blast, sparing those inside. Displaced by the bombing, the family found temporary refuge in a nearby school, showcasing the resilient spirit of wartime Londoners.

In 1940, his grandfather’s factory relocated to Axminster, Devon, temporarily operating out of the Axminster Carpets factory. Here, his grandfather joined the Home Guard, and stories from this time have become family legends, blending humour and heroism, often reminiscent of scenes from "Dad’s Army." It was in Axminster that he also met his future wife, and they were later married just after VJ Day in one of the town’s first peacetime weddings.

For this driver, working on Remembrance Sunday was an opportunity to pay his own respects. He decorated the interior of his bus with poppies, creating a mobile tribute that drew many positive comments from passengers throughout the day. When his route was set to leave the bus station at 11:00 am, he observed the two-minute silence, holding a moment of remembrance with around a dozen passengers who joined him.

Reflecting on the day, the driver shared, “Both my great-grandfather and grandfather made it through their wars, but so many others didn’t. This was my way to honour their legacy and the sacrifices of countless others.” For Stagecoach South, this heartfelt tribute, coupled with the £3990 donation to the Poppy Appeal, emphasises their commitment to remembering those who served and supporting today’s service members and veterans.