School trip

New bus driver

Tom's class had a school trip this week, and Miss Swindlehurst asked if I (Matt) would go along as a responsible adult. I was quite flattered.

Class 2's topic for this half term is transport, and one of Ingleton's main employers is Bibby's of Ingleton - a bus and coach company. There are two Bibby children in Tom's class, and their parents organised a trip to the depot.

After the obligatory health and safety briefing, we set off, with everyone wearing hi-vis jackets. I was a designated lollipop man, and had to stand in the middle of the A65, praying the trucks would stop, rather than flattening me.

Bibby's allowed the kids to clamber all over a modern coach and truck as well as a beautiful vintage example of each. Nothing got broken, but one of the girls tripped and smashed her nose - blood everywhere. Fortunately, her mum was another of the responsible adults, and was very calm about it - she's a nurse.

Old bus driver

Tom was partnered with his friend Caitlin (a lovely lass), and they were both clearly delighted with the arrangement, hugging each other every couple of minutes - very sweet.

Anyway, apart from the bleeding nose, nothing else untoward happened, and it was a joy to spend a couple of hours with Tom and his pals. It was another reminder of just what a great bunch of kids they are.  He couldn't be in a nicer group.