Derek Jacubby, who asked for his identity to be obscured
An award-winning bus driver could lose his job for committing a rare act of kindness.
Local man Derek Jacubby, 47, stunned onlookers on his city-centre route by failing to roll his eyes and neglecting to mutter angrily when a passenger handed him a £5 note for a £1.80 fare.
He then refrained from pulling away in a deliberately jolty fashion before student Amir Caan, 20, could get to his seat.
The incident led to Jacubby – who asked for his identity to be obscured for fear of recriminations – receiving a People’s Choice gong at the Local Heroes Awards in April. He was nominated by Caan.
>> Win a copy of EA’s FIFA World Cup game on PS3, Xbox 360 or PSP
“He was so helpful. Mr Jacubby behaved almost like a normal person and treated me like a fellow member of the human race. It’s not what I’m used to from bus drivers, who all seem to have a chip on their shoulder for some reason. It really was astonishing,” said Caan.
But the driver’s actions have landed him in hot water with bosses at his employers Centrum Bus Company.
The firm issues guidance on driver behaviour in accordance with the National Omnibus Bureau’s (NOB) own strict rules on dealing with members of the public.
Under the guidelines drivers are instructed to adopt an unfriendly approach and must go out of their way to show indignation towards anyone who is unsure of route or fare information.
NOB spokesman Beyone Gnoles explained that Jacubby’s actions were unacceptable: “We don’t comment on individual cases, but there’s a procedure to be followed if some idiot uses a bank note on a bus.
“Our employees are expected to make it clear that the passenger has inconvenienced not just the driver, but somehow everyone on the bus.
“They should then attempt to topple the offending passenger by quickly moving the vehicle in an act of swift and petty revenge.”
Mr Jacubby has been advised not to discuss the case by his legal representatives.
His future at Centrum will be decided at a disciplinary hearing on June 6. Meanwhile he is suspended on full pay.
