A team from Veterans Aid joined Waltham Forest Safer Transport police, the Pump House Museum, Stagecoach, Leyton Garage and TFL to celebrate The Year of the Bus on Friday (15th August).
A family Fun Day at the Town Square pulled in crowds from 11am – 3pm to meet members of the Metropolitan Police Safer Transport Team, get their bicycles checked out, pose with an American jeep and inspect a selection of vintage buses and stalls.
The Veterans Aid trio raffled prizes sourced by the Safer Transport Team from TFL, The Mall and Blue Inc, but many visitors to its stall just came to make donations, find out more about the charity’s work, or buy some of the items on sale.
Others stopping by the Veterans Aid tent included Mayor of Waltham Forest Terry Wheeler, London Assembly Chairman Roger Evans, the Pump House Museum’s Lindsey Collier, Great War historian Dr Jim Lewis, Borough Commander Chief Supt Mark Collins – and a very young admirer called Maya who stole the show dancing to the fantastic music of the Five O Band.
“Her father served with the Gurkhas,” observed a proud mum as a delighted Maya slipped on her Veterans Aid wristband and hugged VA’s Ashley Rosser.
The Five O Band is a community partnership, initiated by the Hackney Safer Transport Unit, that forges ground breaking collaborations through live music and event production, created by musicians from the Police and young community.
Organisers PCSO Maddie Dukes, PC Gavin Reynolds and Acting Inspector Dave Johns joined colleagues from the Safer Transport Unit to meet members of the public, talk about its work and enjoy the sunshine.
The famous Routemaster bus had its 60th birthday celebrated in style and the residents of Waltham Forest all ages and new friends at Veterans Aid.
As the afternoon drew to a close A/Inspector Johns said “It’s been a great day for everyone and I’m delighted that more people know about the fantastic work of Veterans Aid.”
The charity’s relationship with the Metropolitan police and, in particular, the Waltham Forest Safer Transport Team is a strong one and photographs at the Fun Day event recalled an earlier fundraising venture which involved military and police teams pulling a double-decker bus from the Cenotaph in Whitehall to VA’s Head office and Drop In Centre, in Victoria.
* The raffle was drawn at the end of the afternoon and all prizes have been claimed.
