Joe Mackie receives OBE

Joe Mackie, Chairman of The UK Bus Driver of the Year Association and a founder director of First Group, has been presented with his OBE.

Joe took a break from preparations for this year’s Bus Driver of the Year (BDoY) National Final to visit Buckingham Palace to receive his honour from Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

Announced in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours list, Joe’s OBE is in recognition of his work steering the Archie Foundation – the official charity of the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital – since 2008.

As well as being chairman of The Archie Foundation, Joe is a long-standing member of St John Scotland, and is also involved with the Gordon Highlanders’ Museum, Aberdeen’s arts centre and art gallery, and the Boys' Brigade

He retired from First Aberdeen in 2015 after working his way up the ranks with the company over 52 years.

He joined what was then the council-run operator in 1963 as an office messenger working his way up to become one of the five directors who led the privatisation of the business that became First Group.

Despite receiving this recognition for his hard work Joe is loath to take the spotlight for himself.

“When I got the letter through the door and read it I really did feel proud of all we have done and that it’s being recognised,” he said.