The Heather Hopper: How one couple's idea to create a community minibus has become a lifeline for elderly moors farmers

Today, husband and wife, Barry and Reverend Sally Wilson are two of the mainstays behind the running of the minibus that has a special place in many of its passengers’ hearts and Barry says its value is priceless in so many ways.

“You know, the destination of a trip on The Heather Hopper isn’t the most important thing. It is that social aspect of the getting together of people from different walks of life. I love driving our fantastic passengers around the countryside and to lovely places where they can carry on being as engaging as they are when they are on their travels. In the nicest way possible it’s chatter warp factor 10 when you’re driving the bus.

“It’s simply wonderful to hear everyone interacting and having such a good natter and having a laugh. Otherwise they might be stuck at home with nobody to talk to during the day. Many have mobile phones and it surprising how some are very good on things like Whatsapp, but nothing beats that conversation and being able to see the person next to you.

“The mental health perspective is so important. I’m sure that everyone’s health and wellbeing is enhanced by going on The Heather Hopper, including the drivers and the people who are referred to as passenger assists who help those who struggle to get in and out of the bus.

“We run all kinds of trips. We take our passengers over to Northallerton for a shopping trip, or there are lunch trips, morning coffees, afternoon teas, and theatre trips to the wonderful Esk Valley Theatre in Glaisdale during summer. We’ve also gone to concerts in Mddlesbrough. If our passengers come up with something we will try to meet their need.

The Heather Hopper is run by a community company called Esk Moors Active which was established in March 2005 by Peter and Christine. It’s a one bus operation and effectively an 11-seater as one of the twelve seats is taken by the passenger assist. The latest bus is 7 years old and Sally, who was chair of Esk Moors Active during the pandemic, would like their next bus, when they can afford to purchase one, as an electric bus.

“We are a voluntary organisation, a registered charity,” says Sally. “We got our last bus through a similar grant to other organisations nationwide who were given grants to buy them. We got it in 2016 and although it hasn’t done a vast number of miles there is quite a cost in keeping it on the road, not just in fuel and insurance costs over a wide range of drivers. We currently have eight on our list, but we always need more and also more passenger assists.

“Every ten weeks it has to undergo what is pretty much a mini-MOT,” says Barry.

“We have had help from the local mining company Sirius most recently with a post-Covid grant, and we receive funding from the Co-op. We managed to replace the bus one time through local man Bill Beattie who had left monies in his will for it. The rest of the time we scurry around for grants.

Sally says that with rural bus services being generally few and far between a community bus is probably more relevant than ever.

“We’ve opened it up to the wider community in that the bus is available to schools and such as the local ladies hockey club for getting to games, but everyone has to become a member of Esk Moors Active.

“Lealholm School recently used it to visit a mosque in Middlesbrough. Widening the number of people that can use it also helps keeps the bus going. Sometimes our school usage and the bus carrying just 11 means there are shuttle runs to get everyone where they need to be, but it’s not about charging excessive fees for usage. We are a community bus and can’t make a huge charge.

“Our core passengers are still generally over 80 years old. During Covid we helped when vaccinations were rolled out to older people who had to get to Whitby.

Sally and Barry have lived in Danby since moving from Marske in 1988. They were both teachers. Sally is now deacon for five churches and has been involved with The Heather Hopper for six years.

“Botton Village now use The Heather Hopper to bring people to church. Moorsholm Church puts on lunches called Winter Warmers and we take people across there.

“I started as a driver and a passenger assist, then was chair for a while during the pandemic when a lady called Liz Sheard helped as well. I’m now a trustee.

“We get a lot of our passengers from the farming community. There’s many a time we are going up into one of the dales and wending our way on tracks into little farmyards. Trying to reverse the bus can be tricky in some.

“We have one absolutely amazing lady called Greta who is in her 90s and lives in the middle of nowhere. Greta and all of the passengers provide sometimes hilarious but always fascinating, wonderful stories of how it used to be in the countryside. They love reminiscing and it really lifts your spirits listening to them.

Barry confesses to sometimes baiting one or two in the nicest possible way.

“We took a trip to Beadlam Grange Farm Shop one day and a lady bought a sausage roll for her son-in-law’s packed lunch. She said it cost her £1.50. I said that we should put it into the safe overnight.

“They really like a bit of humour, they are all lovely characters, and so appreciative of what we all do with The Heather Hopper, but they also have their pride and some we still have to cajole to use the hoist to get in when they obviously could do with a bit of help.

“We certainly need more volunteer drivers and passenger assists,” says Sally. If you can help with funding or being a volunteer please email us at [email protected]