Bus-enthusiast, 8, gets a big birthday surprise from Stagecoach West

Lottie, who was born a month premature, suffered a heart attack at four weeks old.  

After spending months in ICU at Cardiff and Gloucester hospitals her parents Gary and Nicola were told she wouldn’t be able to walk, talk, run or even laugh.  

Despite this prognosis Lottie has continued to surprise doctors and medical professionals ever since, much to the delight of her parents, sister Charlie and brother Finley. 

Lottie was born a month premature and suffered a heart attack at four weeks old (Image: Stagecoach West)

Lottie - who is from Gloucester - has been fascinated with buses her whole life.  

Her parents encouraged her passion by buying posters, toy buses, and even unused bus stop flags.

Lottie was overjoyed when her father Gary started working for Stagecoach West in 2019.

When they moved to a new house opposite a bus stop Gary’s bus driver colleagues would often wave at Lottie and her siblings which she loved.

With Lottie’s eighth birthday approaching her parents wondered what they could do to make the day extra special so Gary spoke to James Williams, Stagecoach West operations manager at Gloucester and they hatched a plan.  

On the morning of Lottie’s birthday Everton Graham, a Stagecoach West bus driver, stopped his bus outside Lottie’s house, picked her and her family up and drove them all to school, on her very own private bus. 

Lottie having fun sitting in the driver’s seat (Image: Stagecoach West)

Lottie with bus driver Everton Graham (Image: Stagecoach West)

James Williams, operations manager, Stagecoach West said:  “Lottie is an incredibly special girl and a very important part of the Stagecoach extended family, so to be able to do this for her on her birthday was a huge honour.  

“Thanks to Everton and everyone involved who helped make this surprise possible.”