Your getaway drivers Annemarie & Jon

Annemarie and Jon are real holiday experts – cool under pressure, warm with people, and always one step ahead. With them in charge, the journey’s just as good as the destination.

- How many years have you been coach driving?
  Annemarie: I have been driving buses and coaches for 16 years now. I started out as a bus driver, then moved onto coaches. I worked around London and then in Europe for a Spanish operator doing airport transfers.
  Jon: I passed my coach driving test in 1997 and have been on the road for 28 years. I worked for various holiday companies for most of that time, in summer and winter destinations.
- How many years have you been driving with our company? We have been driving for Leger for four years now. We started just after the pandemic and haven't looked back since.
- How many years have you been driving together as a team? We started our driving career together when we started driving for Leger four years ago. Previous to that, we had worked for a camping company based in Switzerland as holiday representatives, so we knew what to expect working together. We enjoy it and each of us know our role. It flows really well.
- Does your coach have a name? Not yet! We have been getting feedback from passengers about what we could name our coach, but the right name just hasn't come up yet. Our surname is King. Maybe, so we could name our coach King of the Road?
- What inspired you to become a coach driver?
  Annemarie: My dad was a coach driver so it's in my blood. We used to go on European holidays as youngsters. In fact, I met Jon 20 years ago because he used to drive with my dad as a young, fresh coach driver. I'm convinced my dad taught Jon all the bad ways (haha). But, on a serious note, we both learnt from experienced drivers who are no longer in the industry.
  Jon: My uncle was a coach driver too, working for the same company as Annemarie’s dad. He would encourage me to get my PCV licence and, when I eventually did, I drove to Spain, Italy, France, much like I do now. And, of course, that’s how I met Annemarie.
- When you're not on the road, how do you like to spend your time? When we’re not on the road, believe it or not, we're planning our travels. We love to visit new places so we're in the ideal job for us.
- What is your favourite country, destination, or tour you've driven to? We both love the lakes and mountains. Austria and Switzerland have a piece of our hearts, and this makes us passionate when we drive tours to these locations. We firmly believe that if the drivers/guides are enthusiastic and passionate, it rubs off on our passengers. But, if we had to choose one tour, it would be cruising the Danube. In fact, the blue Danube was our wedding song 13 years ago!
- What makes it your top choice? We love the variety of destinations this tour includes. Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna, just to name a few, ending in our beloved Austria and staying at the fabulous Hotel Sonnschein. Herbert and Emilie, father and daughter, look after everyone so well. We arrive as guests but leave as friends.
- What's your favourite memory from a past tour?
  Annemarie: Once, on the way to Austria, a passenger asked me to put a song on the radio by Frank Ifield. Being a bit mischievous, I asked the passengers to sing along if they knew the song. I had never heard of Frank Ifield, so I didn't know it. I had a quick listen on YouTube and convinced myself no one would know this song. I played the song and, lo and behold, the whole coach erupted into song. Everyone knew it, all 40 passengers. It's not often I'm taken by surprise, but it really did put the biggest smile on my face, and it made the atmosphere on the coach electric. It was one of our first tours with Leger and we'll always remember it.
- Do you have any personal touches that make your coach feel welcoming? The biggest thing is a friendly welcome and a smile on our faces. We also have blankets if people are feeling cool, as well as a bookshelf and magazines. We keep stocked with brochures and we give out little chocolates every now and again. We also do quizzes on long journeys on pop movies or music, depending on what the passengers would like.
- If you could provide a top travel tip for our passengers, what would that be? We're here to do all the bits that you don't have to worry about so sit back, relax and embrace the journey.
- Is there anything else you would like to share with us about the tours you do? We try to give the best customer service to all the tours we do, whether it's a short 5-day break, a long 19-day holiday, a battlefield tour or any specialist tour. Our passengers are the most important people to us, and, without them, we wouldn't be able to do the job we love. So, keep travelling and keep enjoying Leger.