Crime & Safety
Oxford Bus Company: Andy Seeney celebrates 40 years at firm
Now celebrating 40 years of service, Andy’s milestone also highlights a remarkable family connection to the business, with his older brother David having joined the company in 1968 and the pair contributing more than 60 years of combined service.
Mr Seeney, from Eynsham, joined Oxford Bus Company as a teenage apprentice body builder straight from school in September 1985. He is now the company’s body shop and asset improvement manager.
He said: “It was good to follow in the footsteps of David and come and work with him. It meant I knew it was a good company to work for.
“I got to work with David for four years, working with him and learning a lot from him.
“That could be challenging, with him being family, but I enjoyed it.”
During his time with the company, Mr Seeney has witnessed major changes across the industry and within the workplace.
He said: “The vehicles are different to when I started and how they’re put together has changed.
“It’s always good to learn new techniques, but it’s just as important to know the older ways of doing things.”
He also reflected on the growth of the company and the evolving nature of his role.
He said: “There’s a lot more staff these days and it’s a much bigger business. I enjoy the changes as they bring new challenges.
“My day tends to start off in the garage office, seeing if there are any new vehicles off-road, and then working a plan of action from there.
“Facilities is a big part of my job, along with refurbishments and improvements. Each day is a new day in this job, and I like that.
“I like to have a new challenge to come into rather than be doing similar things each day.”
In recognition of his long service, Mr Seeney was honoured at the company’s recent Really Amazing Awards.
He said: “It’s always been a good team effort and never been about just me or someone else.
“People always get together to help each other, and it’s a real team effort every day.”
Luke Marion, managing director of Oxford Bus Company, praised Mr Seeney’s loyalty and dedication.
He said: “Andy has given an exceptional number of years’ service to the company and should be immensely proud of what he has achieved.
“A real team player, Andy has a brilliant can-do approach, always getting stuck in and delivering.”
Pupils from Beckley CofE Primary School in Oxfordshire created their own ceramic birds as part of a pottery workshop led by artists from The Art Barns at Bernwood Pottery in Horton-cum-Studley.
The artwork will form part of the Oxfordshire Artweeks exhibition running from May 9 to 17.
Elizabeth Murphy, a ceramicist at The Art Barns, said: “Every year The Art Barns at Bernwood Pottery creates a curated exhibition of work by local artists who are passionate about what they do.
“This year for Artweeks we wanted to do something more than just show our work: we wanted to give back by engaging and inspiring the community with art. We are therefore very pleased to be collaborating with Mr Houston and his team at Beckley CoE Primary School to create a very special installation by the children to present during Artweeks.”
On March 23, Ms Murphy and fellow artists Rachel Kelly and Charlie Leech spent the day at the school running a pottery workshop for all pupils, who each created a clay bird. The project was inspired by the natural murmurations of starlings over nearby Otmoor and the school’s vision to “soar on wings like eagle”.
Ms Murphy said: “Each child from Reception to Year 6 made their own bird out of clay. Though we led the children in how to make, every single one turned out completely different and as unique as the child that made it.
“Ranging from beautiful textures to elongated beaks to fighter jet birds to dashing birds in top hats, each and every bird has its own distinctive personality.”
The clay birds will be fired and suspended as a murmuration-style installation at The Art Barns throughout the Artweeks festival.
Rick Houston, headteacher at Beckley CofE Primary School, said: “This project has been a fantastic opportunity for every child in the school to be engaged in a shared art work.
“Each bird had a similar starting design, which was then personalised by each child. This linked to themes we have been learning about in school; how each of us is the same and each of us is unique and different, and how both of these things can be true at the same time.
“We come together to form a larger whole as a school community which has the same ephemeral, ever changing nature as the starling murmurations over Otmoor.”
After the exhibition, the installation will be dismantled and each child will receive their clay bird as a keepsake.
The first-ever Sri Lankan night took place at Beckley Village Hall on Sunday, May 3.
The evening attracted around 85 people, many working in the main hospitals, care industry as well as local businesses.
It featured lively performances from three artists who travelled from Sri Lanka: Rajiv Sebastian, Anthony Surendra, and Shyamen Dangamuwa.
Music was provided by UK-based Ishan Perera, while the event was hosted by well-known UK emcee Sajith Wathsala.
The evening was organised by the Oxford Sri Lankan Society whose main members are Shimal Livera, Thilini Fernando, Sanjeeva Hennayake, Udani Liyanage, Ravi Chandrasekera, and Samantha Mirihana,
Organisers said it was an opportunity for everyone to enjoy ‘lively music, good vibes and networking’.
The Mulberry Bush, based in Witney, is among the top 10 finalists in the Oxford Bus Company’s Brand the Bus competition, which offers charities the chance to have their cause featured on a bus.
The winner will receive a prize package worth £100,000.
Russel McIvr, senior fundraising manager at The Mulberry Bush, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be in the top ten.
“To whichever organisation is chosen as the winner, the impact of this prize will be enormous.
“The £100,000 prize package represents an incredible opportunity for thousands, if not millions, of people to see and hear about the vital work charities across Oxfordshire are doing in their communities.”
The Mulberry Bush was one of 71 organisations to enter the competition.
Oxford Bus Company said nearly 9,000 public votes were cast to determine the top 10.
The shortlist includes Age UK Oxfordshire, Alzheimer’s Society, Cure DHDDS, FarmAbility, Opportunity International, Oxford City Farm, Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary, Sobell House Hospice, and SUDEP.
The final decision will now be made by a panel of judges.
The winning charity will have its branding displayed on a double-decker bus.
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