One of the recent traditions on Nottingham Express Transit around its anniversary is the naming of a tram after a Community Hero with Citadis 222 the tram reserved for this honour. The 2019 renaming took place on Friday 15th March with the lucky recipient being David Stewart OBE, a local head teacher and Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire.
David first arrived in Nottingham in 1972 to study history and was awarded an OBE in 2003 for services to education. He had previously worked in a hospital in Kent and volunteered at a Junior Training Centre before training in Leeds to teach children with severe learning disabilities. He worked at a school in south London for a few years before returning to Nottingham as Senior Master (and later Head Teacher) at Shepherd School. A decade ago he became head at the new Oak Field School in Bilborough which has since achieved six outstanding Ofsted inspections.
Stephanie Moss-Pearce, NET Marketing Manager, said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer David some of the public recognition he deserves after so many years’ service to education, the arts and children with disabilities. He joins a number of unsung heroes to have trams named after them, alongside some of the city’s most famous names.”
David himself added: “This is a real honour and one that really recognises the achievements of pupils and staff at the school, and all those who work with children – particularly those with special needs. It’s particularly fitting that this recognition comes from NET as trams provide one of the easiest forms of public transport for people with disabilities.”
222 was previously named Michelle and Richard Daniels and will keep this new name for 12 months.