The Worthy Players donates £500 to the Friends of King Alfred Buses

The Worthy Players joined members of FoKAB for a cheque presentation ceremony in The Broadway, with the performers later being treated to a ride on a 1929 Leyland Lion bus through the city.

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

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The cheque presentation in The Broadway (Image: The Worthy Players)

Martin Pettigrew, chairman of the Worthy Players, said: “We are proud to be able to support the Friends of King Alfred buses through our charity donation this year following the devastating fire the group and its members suffered at Penton Mewsey last December.

“The Worthy Players have been performing for 50 years and part of our tradition is to make charity donations from performance profits each year to local and other good causes nominated by members of the group.  Other recent beneficiaries have been the Theatre Royal, Winchester Hospice, Winchester Youth Counselling and the local women's refuge. FoKAB is a fantastic group of volunteers whose numerous running days in Winchester are enjoyed by friends & families of all ages and long may they continue.”

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

James Freeman, FoKAB chairman, 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, devoted to the continued restoration and preservation of Winchester's King Alfred buses, to profit from their efforts.

Riding on the 1929 Leyland Lion bus (Image: The Worthy Players)

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“We never cease our fund-raising 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."

The Worthy Players had sell-out performances at its pantomime Dick Whittington in December. The group is now preparing for its next production of Alan Ayckbourn’s Neighbourhood Watch in April.

FoKAB’s Original King Alfred Running Day will be on Monday, May 6 this year with more than a dozen traditional King Alfred buses, supported by up to twenty-five buses and coaches giving free rides around the city. 

For more information on the Worthy Players contact maryblaxland@btinternet.com and for more information on the Friends of King Alfred buses contact d.morgan52@btinternet.com.