The man behind south Essex bus services has been made an MBE in the New Year's honours.
Chris McCormick, divisional manager with First Bus, started out 35 years ago as a bus conductor who left school without a single qualification.
Now the 54-year-old bus boss, from Kenneth Road, Thundersley, is the UK manager for a lifelong learning scheme and has been honoured with an MBE.
The father-of-two will pick up the award both for his services to public transport and his work on basic skills education for First bus company workers.
Mr McCormick said: "I'm absolutely ecstatic - it's not something you ever expect.
"My son James inspired me to set up the lifelong learning scheme.
"When he was at school, he was told he had no chance of making something of himself, but he went off to college and then to Liverpool University, where he graduated with a First.
"He is now doing a PhD at Great Ormond Street and he showed me what people, with the right amount of encouragement, can achieve."
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