FoKAB given cash boost by amateur dramatics society

Amateur dramatics society the Worthy Players has presented a £500 cheque to the Friends of King Alfred Buses (FoKAB) after the charity suffered a fire in December.

Members of the Worthy Players joined FoKAB for a cheque presentation ceremony in Winchester Broadway, with the Players later being treated to a ride on a 1929 Leyland Lion. The theatre group makes a charity donation each year and has a close connection with FoKAB.

Eight historic buses and coaches were destroyed in the blaze in an industrial unit near Andover in December. Among them was a 1950 Leyland Olympic belonging to FoKAB and a double-decker owned by FoKAB member Richard Aldous who is also in the Worthy Players. Richard had spent 15 years restoring his bus to its former glory.

Both organisations celebrated milestone anniversaries last year.  The Worthy Players was marking its 50th birthday while it was 50 years since the last King Alfred bus made its journey through the city.

“£500 is a princely sum and we plan to put the money towards the vital repair of the radiator of FoKAB’s very first bus, a 1959 Leyland Tiger Cub” – Chairman of FoKAB, James Freeman

Chairman of FoKAB, James Freeman, said: “Volunteer effort is the life blood of our local community and this remarkable donation is certainly a wonderful example of how two voluntary groups can work together. At FoKAB we are so grateful for the fact that the Worthy Players, following the spectacular success of their pantomime before Christmas, were prepared to nominate our charity – which is devoted to the continued restoration and preservation of Winchester’s King Alfred buses – to profit from their efforts. We never cease our fundraising so we thank them most sincerely for choosing us to benefit from their efforts. £500 is a princely sum and we plan to put the money towards the vital repair of the radiator of FoKAB’s very first bus, a 1959 Leyland Tiger Cub single-decker that was rescued way back in 1981.”

FoKAB’s Original King Alfred Running Day will take place this year on Bank Holiday Monday 6 May with more than a dozen traditional King Alfred buses, supported by up to 25 historic visiting buses and coaches giving free rides around the city.