2025 01 Spring with bleed - Flipbook - Page 50
The Thursday Morning
Community Bus
Heather Burch
When my husband (Rob) died
my life changed forever and
one huge difference, apart
from the loneliness, was that I would have to drive :
after about 20 years of avoidance. I achieved the
drive to South Molton but I would always avoid busy
Market Days. In January 2024 I decided to give the
bus trip a try and although it was a challenge to
spend over 2 hours in town with no market and very
few shops open it proved to be a worthwhile
experience. The bus trip was friendly and welcoming and waiting for the
bus involved seeing dog walkers in the village and chatting to other
passengers on the bus.
Community Bus is a very good description: it's like no other bus I have
ever travelled on. I have got to know the other regular passengers - some
from the village and others from Chulmleigh and there is always friendly
banter. The regular driver, Paul from Burrington, is a kind soul who makes
the journey memorable and literally goes out of his way to make it a
pleasant experience. During the winter he coped admirably with frequent
local road closures and very icy lanes.
Sadly the 16th January was our last journey with Paul as he is being
replaced on this trip by his Deputy. He will be missed (oh ..and we will all
also miss the occasional wet nose greeting from Scout).
Thanks to the Community Bus I now have my bus pass and have made
new friends and got out into the real world...at least on a Thursday
morning.
Our orst week with replacement driver Rich was hilarious. He had been
sent up from Torquay and had no idea where he was going. The
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