What were you doing fifty years ago? You may not even have been born!

Back in February 1967, following an initiative by the Rotary Club of Midsomer Norton and Radstock the year before, a Public Meeting was held to discuss the formation of a Charitable Trust to benefit the disabled and infirm of the community by providing specialised transport.

Over 230 letters had been sent out (some undertaking before the advent of the computer age!) to Women’s Groups, Sports and Social Clubs, Organisations for the elderly and Disabled, Youth Clubs and Groups, Churches, Schools,

Businesses, Factories and Licensed Premises, etc. There had been a good response and an order had been placed through WT Crockett Garages for a new Commer 2500 Series VS Van. After conversion to an Ambulance and the installation of a tail lift, the cost amounted to £1,325!

A Declaration of Trust was signed on 21st April 1967, the first Trustees being J.T. Moss, S.F. Woodland, A.W. Young (all from the Rotary Club) and J.K. Froud (representing the local branch of the British Red Cross). The Trust was then

registered with the Charity Commission (No. 276166).

Over the fifty years, many local people have been involved, too many to mention here, and the Trust is now on its sixth vehicle. Many organisations, past and present, have benefited from the vision of the founding members of the Rotary Club’s Community Service Committee under the chairmanship of Mr S.F. Woodland. Some organisations depend on the vehicle and its voluntary driver picking up and delivering back home their members. The dedication of past and present drivers has been appreciated, often going that extra mile in helping their passengers on and off the minibus.

As with most voluntary organisations, paperwork has increased, together with minibus and driver legislation, and the Trust’s Management Committee have been grateful for the support of officers of various Councils, initially Somerset, through their Social Services department, formerly in Redfield Road, Midsomer Norton, then Avon County Council and now Bath and North East Somerset Council. The counties have

financially supported the work and still do so, including driver testing and other services.

What of the future? Ten years ago, there were 11 million older people in Britain and this figure was expected to rise to over 15 million by 2013. More than 10 million were disabled and it was estimated that by 2020 (not far off now!) nearly 60% will suffer from a health-related issue.

So it is essential that the local community supports local organisations who meet the needs of the older generation, enabling them to get out of the house and continue meeting their friends in community activities. This aim cannot be achieved without the goodwill and expertise of our volunteer drivers – is driving a minibus something that you could do? Please phone our Chairman on: 01761 452585 for further

information.

So will the local community minibus be running in 2067? Only time will tell. Thank you, the citizens of Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Westfield and those further afield for

supporting the Trust’s work in the past, now and hopefully, in the future!