Fifty Years and counting! Your local Community Minibus Trust has recently celebrated its Golden Anniversary of providing transport for local groups.

The Midsomer Norton and Radstock Community Service Vehicle Trust (Registered Charity No. 276166) was formed in 1967 by public subscription and has been doing sterling work ever since.

At a buffet lunch held last Friday at Welton Rovers Football Club to celebrate the occasion, Melvyn Johnson (Chairman) welcomed past and present members of local hiring organisations, drivers, committee members and supporters. He outlined the vision of the founders from Midsomer Norton and Radstock Rotary Club and the local British Red Cross to provide a community minibus for use by the disabled and infirm members of local groups.

Bill Freeman, Chief Executive of the Community Transport Association, Manchester, mentioned the good work done by community transport schemes up and down the country in enabling the housebound and others to continue being involved in community life.

The Chairman of B&NES Council, Alan Hale, brought the greetings of the Council who financially contribute towards the work of the Trust and assess our drivers. He said: “If people stopped volunteering, the world would stop turning. Part of the challenge of any charity is sustainability, and we really need the next generation to come and ensure longevity, to allow this valuable service to continue for the next fifty years.”

Also present were Mayor and Chairs of local Councils, together with the Member of Parliament for North East Somerset, Jacob Rees-Mogg. The local Churches and the Lions Club were also represented.

Thanks of the Trust and Committee go especially to the local groups who continue to hire the minibus to transport their members to their meetings, church services, outings and other events. Also to the volunteer drivers who willingly drive and often participate in their group activities. More drivers are needed – can you help, please?

Thank you to those who look after and maintain the minibus – no small job these days. Those who keep the ‘show on the road’. Can you help here as well? And to the local communities where the Trust operates. So ever onwards – towards the Diamond Jubilee?!

If your Community/Church Group are considering hiring the twelve seater minibus, please contact our Co-ordinator, Debbie, on: 01761 416910. If you would like to consider volunteer driving, phone Nick on: 01761 413872. If you could help with paperwork, etc., phone Melvyn on: 01761 452585 or David on: 01761 413473. We’d love to hear from you if you can support the work the Trust does. Thank you!