Driving career helped me on road to recovery
A Rutherglen gran was left broken by the sudden death of her beloved brother.
But she says taking up a new career as a bus driver at the age of 54 has given her a new lease of life.
Thereza Skivington was devastated last January when her 40-year-old brother, Jim – a father of two young children – was struck by Aussie flu or H3N2, a virus which in his case proved deadly.
“It changed my life. I was lost for a good year. He was my baby brother and my rock,” said Thereza, a former estate agent from Fernhill.
Due to ill health and her crushing grief gran-of-two Thereza no longer felt able to continue as a volunteer at Fernhill play scheme.
After undergoing surgery she decided it was time to get a grip and move on but she did not want to return to a desk job.
“I thought ‘no, this is not what Jim would have wanted’,” Thereza said.
“I’d always wanted to be a bus driver from when I was a wee girl. Even at 54 I thought, ‘you are a strong, independent woman. Go out and do it’.”
Inspired by her uncle who drove coaches around Europe, she attended a First Group women’s recruitment day where she received nothing but encouragement.
Thereza signed up with the support of trainer Linda McNeish but found the prospect of the theory test daunting.
“I can pull out a washing machine and turn my hand to decorating but don’t ask me to do anything theory wise,” she said.
She failed the theory test at her first attempt but, determined to succeed, she resat the test and sailed through it before passing her bus driving test in August.
She has now been on the road for five weeks, driving passengers who regularly use the 75, 5, 7, 7A, 34 and 34A services between Rutherglen, Castlemilk and the Queen Elizabeth II University Hospital.
“I absolutely love it. It’s the best thing I have ever done,” said the mum-of-four.
“It is just lovely. I love doing the 7 because I come from Fernhill and love seeing the people coming on the bus.”
Because her grandchildren Kaidi McCusker and Kodi attend Fernhill playscheme, where she previously volunteered, all the children there know her as Nanny T.
“A child got on my bus and said ‘It’s Nanny T’! Things like that make your day,” said Theresa, who starts her shifts at 5am – and even hates her days off.
“It is crazy how folk still look at a female bus driver as alien. They always look twice. I am told by passengers I am a credit to the company and I’ve been told I’m the nicest driver there is.
“Everyone gets a ‘darlin’ or ‘sweetheart’ from me and they all get a ’cheerio’.
“My daughters are over the moon. They say they’ve got their mum back.
“At the age of 54 I am super proud and so are my grandkids.”
Thereza believes the brother and father she lost have been behind her on her journey.
“I would never have got where I am without my brother being there,” said Thereza.
“Life will never be the same without him but I feel him here with me all the time.
“I would not have done it without the support of my girls and my dad and my brother being at my back.”
John Gorman, head of operations at First Glasgow, said: “Thereza immediately impressed the team as a potential candidate.
“She has gone from strength to strength and impressed staff and customers alike.
“Thereza has only been out in service for a few weeks but her enthusiasm and customer service skills mean she is a natural for the job.
“Hopefully she can be a shining example and role model to other women looking to join the industry.”
For more information on becoming a bus driver or other careers available with First Glasgow visit www.firstgroupcareers.com/scotland/glasgow.