I first heard the news lunchtime today, immediately investigated elsewhere and the stories were mixed, as it always is before official announcements are made. Initially staff were told that Mr Eden had been placed on compassionate leave, would then go on holiday and return. However, the circumstances surrounding his exit late last week told me that simply wasn't the case and it was just a matter of time before his permanent departure was confirmed.
I have a lot of respect for how Philip Eden reorganised the Anglian network. I like the way routes have been linked together and this has also proved popular with passengers. As a strategist he has helped Anglian develop and become a force to which passengers remain loyal to.
However, and these are my personal views, the Anglian fleet has been decimated to such an extent that vehicles not fit to go on the road are being pressed into service because there are simply not enough spare vehicles available. I hope my comments yesterday about the Tridents are really taken on board, for example, and the fleet is controlled and managed so that there are enough vehicles available without drivers having to take buses out that really should be over the pits.
I have also seen at first hand his man management skills, which belong in the 19th century. To shout at staff the way I have heard him do doesn't belong in the industry, and the turnover of drivers in the last 12 months has been simply staggering. I am convinced that morale at Anglian will rise as a result of today's news, staff absenteeism and accidents will fall, and a more stable workforce will be in place. I look forward to announcing who Mr Eden's successor is in the comng weeks, and wish Anglian all the success for the future.
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| The future's bright - the future's yellow! Line up of Scanias at Anglian yesterday |
Hardly the sort of item to post here. This is someone we are talking about here. Yes Phills management style was not acceptable all other decisions would have been made at higher level.
ReplyDeleteNot the place to post.
So you are saying that the sports section of a paper can't report a football manager being sacked, or the Financial Times report a Chief Executive leaving a company? This is a transport blog and I reported the departure of a Transport manager, while giving my personal opinions which I know full well are not unique to me. At least I have the balls to put my name to my comments.
DeleteGood for you steve
DeleteWith J Patterson taking the decent vehicles to Konect and giving all their old crap to Anglian and P Edens appalling treatment of staff, what was once a great company has been ruined. Good riddance to them both. I pity the person who has to attempt to rebuild it.
ReplyDeleteIt will take a person with drive, ambition, and really good man management skills. Anglian still has great potential with the right person at the helm. I hope they chose the new person wisely.
DeleteAre fleet decisions managed locally or by some higher power, like they seem to be at First? Anon 13:17, I think Steve posted a balanced post, I'm glad he posted his opinion. Lee
ReplyDeleteThanks Lee. When I interviewed Mr Eden in October he seemed to be revelling in the glory of having reduced the fleet from 92 to 50. He didn't say if the directive had come from above although I assume it was discussed. A lot of the fleet reduction was due to shift pattern alterations and the cessation of one man one bus operations. Sadly though not enough surplus was left in the fleet to cater for the reliability of the vehicles that were left.
DeleteNot the place to post, piffle. It's a blog to say what you feel. He was good at certain things and awful at others ( tie gate) for example. Wish him well but please keep out of the bus industry. Better off working for Vodafone as crappy texts were never welcome.
ReplyDeleteEver heard of libel folks?.... perasonal opinions are one thing but if this has an impact on Mr Eden getting another job good luck at the court case
ReplyDeleteThere is just one thing - in Law the truth can never be regarded as libellous or defamatory - everything I published I witnessed first hand. If I published everything I have heard second hand I'd still be typing at Easter. For your convenience and education here is a snippet from Wiki that might help.
DeleteEnglish law allows actions for libel to be brought in the High Court for any published statements which are alleged to defame a named or identifiable individual (or individuals; note that under English law companies are legal persons, and may bring suit for defamation)[1][2][3][4] in a manner which causes them loss in their trade or profession, or causes a reasonable person to think worse of him, her or them. Allowable defences are justification (i.e. the truth of the statement), fair comment (i.e., whether the statement was a view that a reasonable person could have held), and privilege (i.e., whether the statements were made in Parliament or in court, or whether they were fair reports of allegations in the public interest). An offer of amends is a barrier to litigation. A defamatory statement is presumed to be false, unless the defendant can prove its truth. Furthermore, to collect compensatory damages, a public official or public figure must prove actual malice (knowing falsity or reckless disregard for the truth). A private individual must only prove negligence (not exercising due care) to collect compensatory damages. In order to collect punitive damages, all individuals must prove actual malice.
English defamation law puts the burden of proving the truth of allegedly defamatory statements on the defendant, rather than the plaintiff, and has been considered an impediment to free speech in much of the developed world.
That final point is interesting, and I would happily defend myself in Court Of course I'd finally find out who you are too, which would be even more interesting!
IF any of this came about Steve then come to Anglian and i will make myself known to back you up. I will defend you to the very end
DeleteMr Eden had a reputation BEFORE he came to Anglian. You would think he would get the message by now. As for having an impact on him getting another job. He must be running out of places to go in the bus industry
DeleteWow - thank you very much. I hope one day you'll let me know who you are so I can shake your hand and buy you a drink!!
DeleteIf Go Ahead hadn't bought Anglian it would have long gone. Everyone knew it was on its knees. Look at the mess they made with the Gas buses
ReplyDeleteBlah blah blah!!! Yawn
DeleteNow that's libelous as its untrue. That's a rumour spread after the sale. And you probably know it.
DeleteAnon from 13/1 13:38
Here here
DeleteYou obviously don't know what you're talking about. Now the buses and staff are run into the ground where as before everyone was happy
ReplyDeleteI think you'll find they all happy again now so it's you who has no clue. Good riddance I say
ReplyDeleteI worked for the original Anglian Bus and was very happy. We were treated very well by the management and had a great work force. My personal opinion is that the company went downhill when Go Ahead took over.
ReplyDeleteIndependent companies give you a better, more personal service.