The number 22 has proved lucky for competition winners Mark Lyon and Anne Scorfield, as the entries from the two North Tyneside residents were selected to be featured as the new branding for the Stagecoach North East 22 bus service!
In November last year, the local bus operator introduced its 22 bus service to Cobalt Park and Silverlink in North Tyneside, and to promote the new service the company launched the ‘Club 22’ competition.
Participants were asked to give a reason why the number 22 was connected to them, with 22 prizes awarded by random draw and some of the best entries made up into unique designs, with entries from Mark and Anne featuring in two of the six chosen to be placed on the back of the 22 buses.
26-year-old Mark from Longbenton in North Tyneside entered the competition during a break from work, for a bit of fun. The number 22 is lucky for the Nordics local GAAP manager for Procter and Gamble in Newcastle, and is also the day of his birthday, 22 February, so to celebrate the birthday connection, Mark’s design features two lucky ducks.
Mark said: “I found out about my winning design a few weeks after my entry. It was great when an example image was sent to me as I could see in a real life example how my one line idea had been reflected on a bus. I did tell my parents who were surprised how a small email reply had led to a design on a Stagecoach bus! It looks fantastic up close and I’m really pleased.”
Wallsend resident Anne Scorfield,41, a customer adviser at AA Insurance Services in Newcastle, entered the competition after her friend Heidi told her about it. She said: “We travel on the 22 every day to get to and from work! I love entering competitions and thought winning a weeks’ free travel was great but then to find out my story was going to be displayed on the bus, I was thrilled!”
Anne has a romantic connection with the number 22, as she met the love of her life, Mark at the age of 22 back in 1996. With two children, they will be celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary this May. The design features two pink flamingos to create the shape of the number 22 and to reflect the loving occasion.
She added: “I was over the moon and deliriously happy when I found out a few weeks ago that my entry was chosen! I told my husband and children first and they were so excited. When I told other family and friends they thought it was fantastic and said they’d be looking out for ‘my’ bus for sure!
“The children keep telling me when they see the pink flamingos. I think it looks amazing to see it in real life and it makes me smile!”
Both Anne and Mark won a week’s free travel and shopping vouchers respectively as part of the prize.
Stagecoach North East announced the extension of its route 22 bus service in Newcastle, which now provides new links from across the city via Wallsend to Silverlink shopping park and Cobalt business park in North Tyneside.
Stagecoach also offers a direct express service via its 22X bus during the morning and evening peaks between the city centre and Cobalt, plus two late buses on weekdays.
The 22 serves Silverlink seven days a week, with buses every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday during the day, and every 20 minutes during evenings and Sundays, running as late as 11pm – bringing leisure and shopping opportunities to customers all day and every day.
For further information about Stagecoach North East please visit www.stagecoachbus.com