A MAN who helps elderly people get around the borough has won an award for his outstanding service.

Arthur Camfield, 65, lives in Chadwell Heath, but he drives one of TfL’s Dial-A-Ride buses out of Roding Lane South in Woodford Green.

The service provides free transport to people who are unable to use public transport, and Arthur has just been named driver of the year.

He said:”It was a surprise to find out I’d won an award, but I don’t want to make a fuss about it, because I’m just doing my job.

“I do make sure I get to know the people I drive about, but to me that’s all part of the service.”

Mr Camfield has been a Dial-A-Ride driver for six years, but he spent much of his working life in an antiques shipping business and says he is enjoying life on the road.

“This is much better than being stuck in an office,” he said. “You meet so many people and it’s great being out and about.

“Some of the people don’t see anyone else but me all week, so it’s important to make the effort to chat.”

Mr Camfield, who has been nominated for the award four times, was praised for his politeness by TfL bosses after being presented with the award which he shares with a driver from Wimbledon.

But it is his willingness to go the extra mile which has made him popular with the people he drives around.

As well as dropping his passengers off, he is sometimes asked to help out with other odd jobs.

“I take a lot of people to the bingo and if the caller isn’t about, I’ll step in,” he said. “Some of them don’t hear too well and I have a loud voice so it works out well.”

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