Bus operator First West of England has marked the three years since hero bus driver Nana Boateng passed away by creating a replica of a dedication plaque on the side of a vehicle in Bath.
James Freeman with the new dedication | Photo © First West of England
The original message dedicated to Nana was unveiled in 2018, and the ceremony was attended by members of his family and his colleagues from First West of England.
Nana, who was hailed a local hero after using his bus to protect a woman he found lying in the road, died in a car crash on Christmas Eve 2017.
Last Friday, First West of England held a virtual ceremony to unveil the commemorative message on the side of one of their newly painted Service 5 buses, which operate around Bath and presented the family with something special to keep.
During the virtual unveiling of the newly rededicated bus, which has replaced the original bus, James Freeman, Managing Director of First West of England, presented Nana’s daughter, Eliza, aged eight, with a replica of the dedication on a plaque that the family can keep, as well as a photograph of the original bus with the dedication.
The message, which sits below the driver’s side window, reads “Nana Boateng 1977 – 2017” with the words “missed by all” and “Winner of the Heart of Bath Extra Mile Award” underneath.
It has been seen by thousands of customers as the bus makes its way along Lower Bristol Road between the City Centre and Whiteway.
Eliza, who now lives in Calne, has already said that she wants to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a bus driver when she grows up.
Her grandmother, Tracey Robinson, said: “The dedication in 2018 was a touching tribute to Nana’s memory, and the message is a lovely reminder of Nana’s kindness and bravery, one that can be seen by everybody in Bath. Eliza loves seeing the message that is dedicated to her Dad.
“She has told us that she wants to grow up to do what her Dad did and be able to help people just like him. It is a wonderful tribute from First Bus that Eliza can now also have a reminder of this message that we can keep with us.”
James Freeman, Managing Director of First West of England, said: “We have kept in touch with Nana’s family over the years and it is an honour to be able to re-commemorate him in this way and gift this plaque to his daughter.
“Nana was an incredibly kind and brave individual who always had a smile on his face. I know he is still missed by colleagues and customers alike.”
