Werner Heubeck, who became a cult hero with his workforce and the public for his hands-on approach to leading Ulsterbus through the Troubles, was born in Germany and served during the Second World War in the Afrika Korps. He was aboard a transport ship that was sunk off the coast of Tunisia, but managed to swim ashore and helped to rescue several of his comrades.

Heubeck moved to Northern Ireland in 1965 and in 1967, despite not having any relevant qualifications, he applied for the job of managing director of what was then the Ulster Transport Authority. When he got the job, he put his leadership skills to good use, streamlining the organisation and rebranding it as Ulsterbus. He cut staff numbers (including phasing out conductors) and rescheduled timetables, after which the organisation started to make a profit.

When the Troubles began in 1969, Heubeck faced the unprecedented task of keeping Ulsterbus running while buses and depots were targeted for terrorist attacks or damaged during civil unrest. A dozen Ulsterbus employees were murdered and hundreds more injured. Bus services were constantly disrupted through security alerts and Heubeck became well known for climbing on board buses to remove suspect devices in order to keep the service running. He was also praised for the amount of time he spent counselling staff affected by the Troubles and their families.

Heubeck retired in 1988 after 23 years at Ulsterbus.

Photo: sludgegulper