The Bopper Bus Farewell Party in Chideock Village Hall was a great success with many children enjoying games, tea and a disco. It was wonderful to see past members now ‘all grown up’ but who came on the bus as eight year olds some 13 years ago. Many past members of the Committee and Escorts who travelled on the Bus all joined in enjoying a buffet and a drink or two. Representatives of Charmouth, Chideock, Symondsbury and Chideock Parish Councils who had supported the Bopper Bus over the last 13 years also enjoyed meeting the ‘latest’ children and chatting to past members. A representative also came from Dorset Youth Association and Bridport Leisure Centre. Richard Keech from Sovereign Coaches who supported the project in every respect also took part in this very enjoyable evening. Two bouquets were presented by the Vice Chairmen Mandy Harvey & Melanie Harvey to Lyn Crisp, Treasurer and Kate Geraghty, Chairman who both were part of the team that set up the Bopper Bus in 2003 as part of the Vital Villages project. The delicious refreshments were supplied by The Chideock Bakers and the Disco by Lee Martin. Whilst the evening was tremendously enjoyable it was tinged with the sadness that the ‘wheels have stopped turning’ on the Bopper Bus. So many children have enjoyed this service over the years and it is such a shame that other 8 year olds will no longer be able to ‘hop on the bus’ on Friday evenings and enjoy games and swimming at the leisure centre. It must be stressed in this time of ‘ cuts’ that money was not the problem as everyone from WDDC, Parish Councils, The Lions of Bridport, The Chideock Trust and many many others have always been happy to support the Bopper Bus but sadly finding volunteers to accompany the children on the bus and to fulfil the obligations of committee membership has proven impossible to maintain. Once again, I would like to thank everyone who has supported the project over the last 13 years.