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Local Bus Operator Takes Santa on a Vintage Routemaster Tour

Stagecoach West buses in Gloucestershire

 Stagecoach West has announced that it is planning to take the Vintage Routemaster on a tour around Gloucester, Cheltenham and Swindon with Santa aboard for the duration of one week. Children aged up to seven years old can go onboard and visit Santa for a £2.50 donation towards Pied Piper.  

The Vintage Routemaster features a temporary grotto for Santa between Monday 12th and Saturday 17th December, stopping at the following locations between 11am and 3pm each day;  

12th December - Visiting some selected Gloucester children's nurseries  
13th December - Cheltenham High Street, outside the Regent Arcade  
14th December - Kings Square, Gloucester  
15th December - Wharf Green, Swindon  
17th December - Kings Square, Gloucester (*extended hours on Saturday 11:00 - 16:00)

Families can board the Vintage Routemaster, which will be decked out as Santa’s Grotto, and pay a £2.50 donation for all children under the age of seven to visit Santa & his elves and receive a present from him. Stagecoach West local drivers have purchased over 550 brand new presents for children aged under seven years old, all of which will be wrapped and handed out, with the proceeds of the £2.50 donation going to Pied Piper.    

Founded in 1992, Pied Piper is the leading children's charity in Gloucestershire. Their mission is to make a difference to the lives of sick and disabled children in the county. They do this by funding medical and practical equipment that enhances care and treatment for children in hospital, special schools and care centres in the region. They provide support and equipment that help make a difference to the lives of sick and disabled children at home and in the local community.    

Richard West from Pied Piper, commented:  

“This is a wonderful Christmas event to enjoy with family. We are hugely grateful to everyone at Stagecoach West who are involved with the vintage Christmas tour bus and thank them for supporting Pied Piper.”    

Rachel Geliamassi, Operations Director for Stagecoach West, commented:

 “This is the second year in a row that we are transforming our vintage Routemaster into Santa’s Grotto. We are so excited to take it on another tour of local towns that we operate in, and that we are able to support such a fantastic charity whilst doing so. We hope that our customers and passengers will dig deep and help us to raise enough to make a real difference to the charity and numerous children up and down the country.”

Snow Business, a local company who create snow and winter effects are for the second year in a row donating realistic snow and ice to the bus, to add to the magical effect for the visiting children.

Explore Gloucestershire
6 December 2016

For further information.