Alex Jeynes

Said the following about Les Sidebottom:

“If you happen to come to Manchester and you visit CrossCountry you are likely to meet Les Sidebottom, and actually if you had been fortunate to be around when Les started some 53 years ago you would have met a younger but no less enthusiastic Les. What Les does not know about the railway it isn’t really worth knowing. He has acted as an unofficial advisor to the younger drivers (and to be fair that is everyone!).

Through Les Sidebottom’s years on the railway a lot has changed, though his enthusiasms for his job and the railway has not. He is still a full time driver with a wealth of knowledge and experience which all grades at CrossCountry benefit from.

At the age of 15 he started work as an engine cleaner at British Rail’s Stockport depot, working through as a fireman, drivers mate and finally in 1977 a driver, moving to his current Longsight depot in 1985. He is now the only driver who has worked over areas of the network that the Beeching report closed! A ride with Les allows you to really get a flavour about what he has seen, he often provides a commentary that gives a real appreciation of the history of the railway and how the railway has continued to develop. His ability to recall his experiences are legendary and his anecdotes are appreciated by all those around him.

He is thankful that he that he is continuing to drive for CrossCountry, the fact that every year when he has a medical he passes with flying colours means that we can continue to benefit from his experience and impeccable safety record.

If you have a conversation with him he will say that it is not really a job at all, he has been known to say that he is the luckiest man to be able to do his hobby for 53 years of his life. He enjoys working but also having the time off, this allows him to appreciate how much of a brilliant job he has and what it means to him to do this on a regular basis.

Les is always commenting that he must of been in the industry along time “You know you’ve been in the industry a long time when you go to York Railway Museum and look at things in glass cases that you used to work with!” though he has no plans to retire yet!

There are not many people like Les, Manchester is all the richer because Les is there, he epitomises the lifetime achievement award, he has dedicated his life to the Railway, he has gained a lot but the railway has gained a great deal from Les. I have no hesitation in recommending Les for this award.“