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Tributes Paid To Much-Loved Former Southern Vectis Employee

Tributes are being paid to a much-loved former Southern Vectis employee.

Colleagues have been remembering Alan Cooley, who sadly passed away on Monday (4).

Alan retired in 2014 after more than 49 years as a coach and bus painter for Southern Vectis.

During his time he painted hundreds of the Island's buses and used his skill to sign write many of the fleet by hand. Alan is well known in the bus world for creating a very special trademark - The Mallyshag - on the buses he painted. The Mallyshag caterpillar appeared in various places on the bus, and even recently found in an office in the Nelson Road depot.

Southern Vectis Depot Engineer, Julian Rose, said:

“This is a sad time for us all, and our thoughts are with Alan’s family and friends as they come to terms with his loss. He was a popular colleague and played a crucial role in bus painting before the introduction of vinyl.”

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