Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Morris men to ring the bells in bus stop dance tribute to driver Martin
APOPULAR morris dancing bus driver in Bristol who died from Covid in 2020 has had a bus named after him on his usual route – and it’s being launched in a unique way.
Martin Egan’s fellow members of the Bristol Morris Men will today be taking the bus on his usual route through Cadbury Heath, Kingswood and Hanham into Bristol city centre.
They will dance at stops along the way, to pay tribute to their muchloved colleague.
Martin was a well-known driver in east Bristol and Kingswood, easily recognisable for his huge beard and larger-than-life character.
He contracted Covid in the first stages of the pandemic, and died from the virus in 2020.
Two years on, and First West of England has named one of its buses after Martin and will be taking it and his fellow morris men on a tour today, bringing the ancient English folk dance to passengers and passers-by in tribute to him.
Martin started working as a bus driver in Bristol in 1980 at the old Muller Road depot, before moving to Lawrence Hill, where he was a regular on the City Lines covering the east of the city.
He was also a longstanding member of the Bristol Morris Men, the longest established ‘side’ of morris dancers in the city, and travelled the country dancing with his friends.
The bus dedicated to Martin’s memory will be driven today by his friend and fellow First driver Brod Gilbert, and the dancers will be collecting money during the day for St Peter’s Hospice.
“Martin was a larger than life character and we miss him very much,” said Grant Glanville, the squire of Bristol Morris Men.
“It is fitting that we celebrate his life through the dancing that he loved so much and also on one of the routes he was so happy driving on. This will be very much a celebration tour and we look forward to performing in his memory.”
Covid hit bus drivers in Bristol hard, with many dying from the virus and others seriously ill or suffering from long Covid.
Just this week, First Bus issued a warning and apology that services were continuing to be severely impacted because so many of its drivers were contracting the virus, creating a staffing crisis.
Today’s first dance will take place at Cadbury Heath, where the dancers and the bus are meeting at 10am. The next stop will be at Kingswood at 11.15am, and then at the Maypole in Hanham at 12.15pm.
The tour culminates with a dance at The Centre in Bristol at 2.30pm, before returning to Cadbury Heath at 5pm.
First West of England’s managing director, Doug Claringbold, said everyone was devastated at Martin’s death.
“Martin was a very well-liked and respected member of the team,” he said.
“Whilst this event causes us to reflect on the critical role our bus drivers selflessly played during the pandemic when they were absolutely on the front line serving key workers, it’s also a joyful way to remember Martin personally.”
Martin was a larger than life character and we miss him very much. It is fitting that we celebrate his life through the dancing that he loved so much GRANT GLANVILLE