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Charities benefit from special Heritage Bus Services in Southend |
| 12 May 2011 |
Following the fourth “Heritage Bus Running Day” in Southend on January 1st, Stephensons of Essex, one of the major independent bus operators in the county, presented a cheque for £1,000 to Essex Air Ambulance today. Stephensons, assisted by other bus operators, had organised special bus services on New Year’s Day when the normal First and Arriva services were not running in Southend. Using a mix of modern and heritage buses, all crewed by volunteers, over 1,500 passenger trips were made and the profits donated to charities supported by the bus companies and their drivers.
The lion’s share of the donations went to Essex Air Ambulance, who received £1,000; other charities benefiting were Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital, MacMillan Nurses and the Wickford War Memorial Association. Supporting Stephensons were bus companies Talisman Coachlines, Lodge’s Coaches, Ford’s Coaches, Ensign Bus, Regal Busways, Network Colchester, Timebus and Panther Travel.
Stephensons' Director Lyn Watson explained: "By offering a public service on a day when there would not normally be any buses running, as well as having some fun recreating the "good old days" of the bus industry, local and national charities have benefitted. In the four years we’ve been running these special New Year’s Day buses, over £4,500 has been raised for charity. We hope to do even better on January 1st 2012!”
Pictured above: Essex Air Ambulance receive the £1,000 cheque. Pictured in front of Stephensons’ 1964 “Queen Mary” traditional double decker at Witham depot are (l-r) Richard Delahoy, Planning Manager, Steven Hughes, Running Day Organiser (seated), Michael Greenway, Stephensons Depot Manager, Diane Andersson, Volunteer fundraiser for Essex Air Ambulance, and Adam Barham of Panther Travel.