Keralite Nurse in UK Follows Father’s Footsteps to Become Bus Driver

LONDON Dec 12: A Keralite nurse who once cared for patients now also steers passengers across the UK’s roads. Susha Premjith, who arrived in the UK in 2020, has successfully completed her driving test and evaluation to become a fully certified National Express coach driver.

Susha’s journey from Kerala to the driver’s seat has been anything but easy. A qualified nurse by training, she left Kerala in 2005 to work in Kuwait before moving to the UK in 2020. Since 2023, she has been living in Poole and Bournemouth, where her dreams finally began to take shape.

“Driving was always in my blood,” Susha said, speaking to this website. “I grew up watching my father proudly wear his KSRTC uniform and drive through Kottarakkara. He was my hero, and I always dreamt of doing something that connected me to his world. My brother works as a Motor Vehicle Inspector in Chengannur — so transport and roads have always been part of our family.”

Though inspired by her father and brother, adapting to the UK’s driving culture posed new challenges. “Learning to drive a bus here wasn’t easy,” she recalled. “The roads, the rules, the discipline — everything was different from Kerala. One woman even told me that a person like me could never drive a bus. That hurt, but it became my motivation. I told myself, if men can do it, women can too.”

She shares a message for aspirants: “Don’t rush. Study the rules, practise every chance you get, and trust yourself. Confidence is your strength.”

Balancing multiple responsibilities made her achievement all the more remarkable. “I work as a nurse at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, and managing both nursing duties and training was exhausting,” she said. “After long shifts, I would still practise driving. I adjusted my schedule, used every free moment wisely, and kept pushing forward because this dream mattered to me.”

Susha now lives in Bournemouth with her husband Premjith and their children, Arunima and Abhinand. “My family has been my greatest support,” she said with a smile. “They celebrated every small victory and lifted me up whenever I felt tired. This success belongs to them as much as it belongs to me.”

With roots in Ezhukone, Kollam, Susha carries her homeland in her heart. “No matter where I live, Kerala will always be home. Every time I drive a bus here, I feel my father’s blessings with me. This achievement is my tribute to him.”