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Driver donate to name bus in honour of customer

(l-r) my15 team leader Leeann Shearer and Jean’s niece Lisa Judson with my15 drivers and Jean's family and friends.

(l-r) my15 team leader Leeann Shearer and Jean’s niece Lisa Judson with my15 drivers and Jean's family and friends.

Drivers on our my15 route who were devastated when a favourite customer died in a road accident have donated money to name a bus after her. 

Jean Levers, who died aged 79 in the April accident in Sandiacre, was known to the drivers as the 'fruit pastille lady', who would give them sweets when she frequently caught the bus. Sadly, Jean's husband Colin, 75, died on 11 June. 

Leeann Shearer, my15 team leader, said: Jean was a much loved customer and the my15 team and drivers on the i4 too were deeply saddened by the loss. There were tears in their eyes when they found out what happened. It was really upsetting. 

"Jean's generosity knew no bounds for the six years I have served the route. She was a kind, warm and loving customer who will be most deeply missed by the team. 

"I wondered what we could do for such a wonderful person and thought that naming the bus after Jean would be nice for the family and for the drivers too. She got on our bus almost every day and this way she'll somehow always be on the bus with us."

Three generations of Jean's family were invited to our Langley Mill depot for a naming ceremony on Sunday 16 June. They were joined by my15 and i4 drivers, many of whom attended Jean's funeral a week earlier in uniform. 

Lisa Judson, Jean's niece, said: "Jean was very sociable and used the bus all the time. Leeann got in touch with me to say how shocked the drivers were and wanted to know if it was okay to send flowers to the funeral and for some drivers to attend. 

"Then she told me the drivers wanted to club together to name a bus after Jean. The my15 drivers donated and then the i4 drivers wanted to join in. It was amazing to hear about. The whole family was very touched by that.

"Jean would have been absolutely thrilled. She was so genuine and generous, not just towards bus drivers but everyone she met. I didn't know about the fruit pastilles, but that did not surprise me at all about Jean."