Happy retirement from the buses, Billy

Best wishes were sent out on social media when a "weel-kent" Caithness bus driver handed in his keys after retiring on Friday.

A post on the Dunbeath village Facebook group said: "Happy Retirement to Billy Mckinlay who hung up his ticket machine today after 47 years bus driving."

Billy started driving in 1974 with Edinburgh Corporation Transport and went on to work with Lothian Regional Transport, Lothian Buses, Highland Scottish Omnibuses and Rapsons Coaches (Nairn/Inverness).

The post continued: "He moved up to Borgue in 2003 and worked with Highland Country Buses (now Stagecoach Highlands) in Caithness for the past 19 years and is a “weel-kent” face up and down the coast. Have a Happy, Healthy and Long retirement Billy!"

Many local people posted messages to wish him all the best in his retirement such as Jules Brown who wrote: "Well deserved Retirement and thank you for keeping us all safe! Love and light Billy xx"

Daithí William Henderson said: "Yer still too young to hang up ee keys. Enjoy sir ye deserve it."

While Shirley Sutherland wrote: "Happy retirement Billy, you'll be well missed on the local runs, that's for sure. Time to put your feet up."

And former Wick High School (WHS) pupil Dylan Cundall had fond memories of Billy as the school-run driver writing: "Will always be treasured by WHS students".

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