Brave Marilyn Celebrates 35 Years at Yorks Bus Operator

It’s not every day you hear about someone staying in the same job for a few years, let alone a whopping 35. Think about it – that’s longer than some of your favourite YouTubers have been alive. But in Yorkshire, one local hero is celebrating exactly that milestone, proving that dedication and community spirit are alive and well. The local bus operator, Stagecoach, is throwing a well-deserved spotlight on one of its longest-serving colleagues, a charity-hero who has been helping people get around the county since 1991.

Image source: Stagecoach showing Marilyn Gibson (left) with Carol Clarke.jpg

A journey that started way back when

The person at the centre of this celebration is Marilyn Gibson. She works as a Garage Operations Clerk, which is a key job in making sure the buses you see on the streets are all running smoothly. It’s about organising, planning, and making sure everything is in the right place at the right time. For 35 years, Marilyn has been a core part of this team, showing an incredible amount of commitment and hard work that has really made a difference to the whole company and the local communities it serves.

To put her 35 years of service into perspective, let's take a quick trip back to 1991 when she first started. It was a completely different world. The internet was just beginning, with scientist Tim Berners-Lee launching the very first web browser, WorldWideWeb, while working at CERN in Geneva. Huge world events were happening, like the collapse of the Soviet Union and the completion of the Channel Tunnel, physically connecting the UK to mainland Europe for the first time in thousands of years. It was a time of massive change, and Marilyn was just starting her long career with the bus operator.

What was life like then? Well, instead of scrolling through TikTok, people were listening to cassette tapes. Let's look at what was topping the charts and showing in cinemas that year:

• Top Songs: ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It for You’ by Bryan Adams, ‘Ice Ice Baby’ by Vanilla Ice, ‘Joyride’ by Roxette, and ‘The Shoop Shoop Song’ by Cher were all massive hits.

• Top Films: People were flocking to see blockbusters like Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Hook, and the chilling thriller The Silence of the Lambs.

Imagine starting a job then and seeing the world change so dramatically around you, from the technology used at work to the phones in people's pockets. Marilyn Gibson has seen it all, and she has remained a constant, reliable presence through it all.

More than a job, a commitment to others

Marilyn’s dedication doesn't stop when her workday ends. She's also a local hero for another, very personal reason. Last year, she became well-known in the area for completing a Memory Walk, which was her eighth major charity challenge in just eight years. Through these incredible efforts, she has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Alzheimer’s research, a cause incredibly close to her heart.

Her motivation is deeply personal and powerful. When preparing for her challenge, Marilyn shared why this work is so important to her. She said:

“My husband, of 59 years, suffers from Alzheimer’s and it is a cruel disease, so I wanted to do something regularly to play a part in finding a cure. The result has been, once a year, I do a Memory Walk to raise more funds, in the hope that they will discover something to prevent future suffering.”

Her words really hit home, highlighting the devastating impact of dementia, which affects so many families across the country. As Marilyn pointed out:

“Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. Someone develops it every three minutes and currently there is no cure. It is scary, but we must confront the biggest health and social-care challenge of our time.”

It's this determination to make a difference that makes Marilyn a true inspiration, both inside and outside of her workplace at the bus operator.

A popular colleague and a real asset

It’s no surprise that someone as dedicated as Marilyn is highly valued by her colleagues and bosses. Her hard work and positive attitude have not gone unnoticed. She's a key figure in the local bus transport network that so many people in Yorkshire rely on every single day. The work of people like Marilyn Gibson is what keeps our towns and cities moving.

Matt Kitchin, the Managing Director of Stagecoach Yorkshire, had some glowing words to say about her contribution over the past 35 years.

Marilyn is an amazing part of our teams – someone who is always a popular colleague and is a real asset in developing the bus network throughout the region for our customers.”

“Her example just goes to show that, if you have the determination, then Stagecoach is an excellent place to make your career and develop your skills.

A 35-year career is a testament to both Marilyn’s incredible character and the supportive environment she has worked in. It's a reminder that a job can be more than just a job; it can be a place to grow, contribute, and be part of a team for a very long time. Marilyn’s story is one of loyalty, hard work, and a deep-seated desire to help others, making her a true Yorkshire legend.