The Albion Lowlander, which served Ayrshire bus passengers in the 1960s, kicked off its journey in Ayr before visiting Ardrossan, Kilmarnock and Cumnock.
Built in 1963, the Albion Lowlander is typical of many Scottish-built buses that operated for Western SMT during the 1960s and 70s. The bus served Ayrshire until 1980 and has been preserved ever since
Although the Lowlander stopped its regular routes 40 years ago, the bus can often be seen across Ayrshire carrying newlyweds who use the bus to celebrate their big day and at Ayr Race Course where it is hired to take punters to big race meetings .
Sir Brian Souter and his sister, Dame Ann Gloag, founded Stagecoach in 1980, and over the past four decades their buses have been proudly serving communities and connecting people across Ayrshire and also across Scotland and the UK.
Fiona Doherty, Managing Director of Stagecoach West Scotland, said: "For the last 40 years Stagecoach has been helping communities get to work, go to school, college and university, get their shopping, spend their leisure time, and stay in touch with family and friends.
"I'm honoured to have played a part in Stagecoach's success and I'm so proud of my team who work hard every day making sure our passengers are able to stay connected with the people and places they care about the most – especially during these exceptional times as we all come to terms with the COVID-19 pandemic.
"But as we look to the future, Stagecoach will continue to play a key role in the future of our local economy, protecting our environment and keeping communities connected across Ayrshire and beyond."
To mark four successful decades, the country's biggest bus and coach operator is appealing to heroes in the communities it serves with its bus, coach and tram services to be part of the anniversary celebrations.
Stagecoach is asking its customers and its communities to nominate their unsung heroes – it may be somebody who has played a significant role in supporting the community during the terrible Covid-19 pandemic, or who is an all-round star and helps make the community what it is.
Stagecoach will be seeking nominations from across each of the areas it operates – from Exeter in the South West to Aberdeen in the North of Scotland. The winner in each area will receive high street shopping vouchers and will be put forward to the final to become the Stagecoach National Community Hero.
Community Hero nominations can be made by filling in this form online and once all the nominations have been gathered, you'll be able to vote for the winning Community Hero in your area. That winner will get a £75 Love2Shop voucher and can be proud in the knowledge that they're valued and appreciated by their community. They'll also be put forward for the chance to be voted Stagecoach National Community Hero and the winner of this title will win £500 Love2Shop vouchers.
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