Brian kept the buses on the road for frontline workers

Brian Montgomery, from Bangor, has become a medallist of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his services to transport in Northern Ireland during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Montgomery said he was “thrilled to bits” at the recognition and paid tribute to his colleagues at Translink.

He said: “I’m very happy about it and very proud of the fact that the entire department is being recognised through me.

“I’m proud of the whole team. Anything that I do, anything that I’m able to do can only be done with the assistance and help of the team that I have about me. I wouldn’t be where I am without them.”

Mr Montgomery started life as a bus driver with Translink 34 years ago and quickly rose through the ranks, most recently being appointed metro systems and performance manager.

With responsibility for overseeing operations in the entire greater Belfast area, Brian was tasked with ensuring services were maintained to support frontline workers during the coronavirus lockdown.

He said: “During lockdown our services were essential for the frontline workers and NHS staff.

“All of our staff, drivers, office workers, cleaners and inspectors, all staff with underlying issues all had to be considered and looked after in a very short space of time.

“At the same time, keeping services running was also very important for the frontline staff that needed to get to their work.

“Hospital staff, police, care workers in the homes, of which my daughter is one herself. And she uses the service so I had an insight to her needs and necessities for her need to get to work.

“She works in a care home and has done right through and I’m very, very proud of her. Not taking the easy option to stay at home but to keep on her with her work.”

NHS staff are not charged for using Translink services to get to work.

Meanwhile Lloyd Creaney and his wife Ruth, from Hillsborough have received the British Empire Medal for services to key workers.

The couple used their graphic design skills to make face shields for Craigavon Area Hospital staff, among others. They were shielding for health reasons and could not leave home but a crew of volunteer bikers organised deliveries.

Mr Creaney said: “We just felt like we did our bit, really.”