Children, parents and teachers from St Helens Primary School gathered around to welcome their brand new library bus to its permanent home this afternoon (Friday).
An arrival party with tea, coffee and homemade cakes was held to welcome the bus to Broomlands Close, where it has been parked up on a specially made hard-standing and is set to be transformed into the school’s new library.
The former Southern Vectis double decker (K737 ODL), which has recently served with Wilts & Dorset, has been donated to the village’s school by the Island’s bus operator and is to filled with books for youngsters in all years to browse and enjoy. A card from the children was handed over to Operations Manager Steve Roscoe.
It was a tight squeeze, but the bus was carefully reversed into place by driver Russell Jenness and will now be disabled with its battery and fuel removed. The bus will remain at the school indefinitely.
The project, which is estimated to cost in the region of £15,000, has come about as the school is in need of a new library. The school is over capacity and the quirky but practical bus library will allow a larger collection of books and will free up other areas.
Members of the Ryde Lions Club kindly handed over a cheque to help fund the project to St Helens’ headteacher, Jane Loader.
