A LIFELINE bus service in the dale has inspired one of its passengers to pen a book of poems to raise money for charity.
For the past three years, friends John Elliott and Dorothy Barker, who both live in Barnard Castle, have travelled weekly on the 95 and 96 Scarlet Band buses from the town to Middleton-in-Teesdale. The purpose of their journey is to visit the Fitzhugh Library, where they both volunteer almost every Tuesday.
The library houses a collection of books, maps, cuttings and photographs from the old Palatinate of Durham and the ecclesiastical parish of Romaldkirk. This includes Holy Island, Bedlington and Norham, in Northumberland, and Crayke, in North Yorkshire.
Mr Elliott has written a series of poems based on the rural bus route which passes through villages such as Romaldkirk and Eggleston. The 77-year-old has compiled them in a book called Oh Happy Scarlet Band, which is being sold to raise money for the library.
He said: “This was a challenge given to me by my daughter-in-law to write a poem every week. I have now written more than 300. This book is only some of them. I realised quite recently that a lot of these poems were about the ride up to Middleton-in-Teesdale so I have put them altogether.
“It is a very important job running the bus service up there. Scarlet Band do a good job. I enjoy the bus journey but we observe things as we go up there. My journey up there inspired the poems. I enjoy writing them. It works my brain.”
In the book, Mr Elliott commends the work of “Davey” who is their favourite driver. The opening poem in the book is all about David Suggett and the efforts he goes to get to know his passengers.
Mr Suggett said: “The book is fantastic. I was impressed by the poems. In a way it promotes the service in Teesdale.
“It is testament to what Scarlet Band have achieved. It says that the public is happy with the service and Scarlet Band like to think they are providing a good service. With customers like Dorothy and John, it makes the day much better.”
Ms Barker, 91, said: “The bus is there but the thing that makes the difference is the driver. It is such a friendly journey. We never get tired of the ride. It is better than good. It is a lifeline for people, it truly is.”
In the book Mr Elliott expresses his thanks to everyone who makes sure the pair can continue to get to the library to do their voluntary jobs.
He said: “The Fitzhugh Library is a charity and it needs funds. We need the items keeping. I have helped up there for seven years and I enjoy it.”
Priced £2.50, Mr Elliot’s book is being sold in the Teesdale Mercury shop, Curlews bookshop in Barnard Castle and The Village Bookshop in Middleton-in-Teesdale.
Scarlett Band transport manager Andrew Dolan added: “The book is absolutely wonderful. Me and the owner really enjoyed reading it. It was a nice gesture. We were actually quite touched by it. We have never had anything like that before. It is nice to get that feedback. It shows we are doing our job right.”
