Keeping Busy

Home Front Bus has been keeping very busy over the last week.  First we visited the tiny but excellent Petham School near Canterbury.  Actually we couldn't quite get there due to low overhanging trees, but parked instead in the local village hall just 200 yards down the road.  We are running out of reasons to say 'no' to schools that want a visit from Home Front Bus and are discovering that we can always find a way and a price option to make a visit possible.

Next we made a return visit to Eridge at the southern end of the Spa Valley Railway.  We enjoyed better weather and more attractions then at the same event last year and consequently there were more visitors to enjoy a trip back in time.  Ed, Jenny and I enjoyed a fish & chip supper whilst riding on the line on Saturday night.  Thanks to Terry and his team for being such great hosts once again.

Whilst there the bus suffered from quite a severe fuel leak, which was cured with the help of the owners of the splendid old fire engine pictured above.  Thanks also to Richard of Brookline Coaches who allowed us to park the bus in thier yard whilst in the mid Kent area.

After a day off the bus went back to Manor Oak School in St Mary's Cray.  It has been a year since our last visit and Ed and I were delighted and greatly encouraged by how much information pupils had remembered from our last visit.

More Great Press Coverage

More great press coverage from Kent Messenger is very welcome!

Diamond Jubilee Deluge

Not only did we have a deluge of rain over the Diamond Jubilee weekend but Home Front Bus also had a deluge of visitors.

It all started at Christ Church School, Folkestone on Friday 1st June for a special Jubilee party, also including pupils from St Eanswythe's School.  During the course of the day over 400 pupils visited to bus to get a taster of what life was like during WW2.  This is a record number for us made all the more notable as there was just two of us on duty.  We hope to return to give years 5 & 6 a more detailed view within the next year.

On Saturday we visited the Dover Tattoo for a very busy and enjoyable day where even the sun came out to burn my nose and arms for a while in the afternoon.  Here we were interviewed live by BBC Radio Kent and gave listeners a chance to hear a short verbal tour of the bus.

On Sunday we were at Hamstreet Country Show, where it rained for most of the day.  This didn't deter a steady stream of visitors who brought with them half the grass from the field, which was regularly carried out by the handful throughout the day.  It is a shame that this was the second year running that it has rained at this event as the organisers are a stoic and enthusiastic bunch who are worthy of a bit of sunshine as a reward for their efforts.

Monday - zzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZ followed by a BBQ.

On Tuesday 5th June we visited the Music in the Park Festival in Staplehurst.  The rain held off until mid afternoon and then decided to stick around for the rest of day.  A hardy bunch of locals were not deterred and brought their wellies and umbrella's to enjoy the music.  The best place to be however was the warm and dry of the Home Front Bus.

Special mention should be made of the whole Burnett family who helped out in Staplehurst and took turns to take refuge in the cab during the rain.

Also Paul who did a sterling job as our shop keeper for three of the four days of the busy weekend.

Brook Community Primary School

Ed and I were treated to a very warm welcome for our day at Brook Community School.  I must admit that I was bit concerned about reaching the school down the narrow lanes and overhanging trees, but in the end the only real concern during the day was staying cool in the extremely hot weather.  The best place to be by far was the Air Raid Shelter where the air conditioning was working overtime.

We were so busy that I forgot to take a photo until all the children had gone home and we were getting ready to leave.  Thanks to all at the school and the fabulous PTA for hosting us.  Thanks also for the following comments left in our visitor book by the Head Teacher:

"The children aged 5-11 all had a wonderful time.  The two people on the bus managed to make the day hugely successful for the whole age range and were thoroughly professional.  They kept even the youngest engaged for the best part of an hour.  Excellent value for money - service with a smile".

Learning Plus Expo

The much heralded Learning Plus Expo has been and gone.  Many thanks to Emma and her team for putting on a very polished show.  We enjoyed showing many teachers, head teachers, governors, civil servants and many others around the bus.  Several schools booked a visit and many more are pondering matters so time will tell how much fruit we will yield.

Inside the exhibition we shared a display stand with Dover Transport Museum with whom we can now offer a joint programme to schools. 

Lastly, the bus has often been compared to the TARDIS as it appears to be bigger on the inside than the outside.  This aspect took a new twist when we discovered Angela from Tudor times knitting in our living room!!!

Faversham Transport Weekend

Another great few days at the Faversham Transport Weekend. The first annual event we have visited twice. Thanks to all at South East Coackworks for being such excellent and kind hosts.

The bus has remained in Faversham to have a few minor battle scars patched up.  Next stop Learning Expo at Detling on Thursday.

2012 Learning Plus EXPO

Home Front Bus will be returning to Detling for the 2012 Learning Plus EXPO
Dateils pinched from the organisers publicity is as follows:

Subject Area: Cross Curricular Development, Evaluation &...*

Target Audiences: All School Staff

Key Stage: Foundation, KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, KS5, 14-19/24

Course Code: SCH 12/915

Date: Thursday 24 May 2012

Time: 10:00 - 17:00

Venue and Location: The Clive Emson Conference Centre

Course Director: Sean Carter
Event Summary:
The 2012 Learning Plus EXPO comes to Kent in a new era for education and childrens services. For the last three years, Learning Plus has been working with External Providers, who offer high quality learning opportunities outside the normal curriculum time and with the recent announcement of Department for Education funding for transition activities as well as the introduction of the Pupil Premium, schools are looking for innovative ways to narrow attainment and achievement gaps. 2012...*

Training Objectives:
Schools will take away from the EXPO:

- New contacts from External Providers who could run activities and summer schools

- Bespoke school improvement materials

- Impact measure tools to support the monitoring of services provided outside normal curriculum time

- Innovative and creative ideas for supporting learning within the classroom

- Up to date information regarding safeguarding young people in out of school hours' activities, the Pupil Premium and Ofsted...*

We look forward to meeting you there.