I was delighted to attend the 70th anniversary of the Romford Bus Garage today. The event showcased an impressive array of 20 historic and modern-day buses, which were available for transport enthusiasts and families to board and purchase vintage toy models.
This event was held to mark the milestone of seven decades since the first-ever bus left Romford Bus Garage on the 103 route back in August 1953. Although this route is no longer in service, the garage currently operates 11 different routes independent of TfL. During the celebration, Stagecoach's regional director, Paul Lynch, highlighted that the displayed buses represented all the vehicle types that have graced Romford Garage over the last 70 years.
I am particularly pleased to note that since 1994, Stagecoach has been operating Romford Bus Garage and has partnered with Macmillan Cancer Support for several years to raise money in memory of former bus driver, Martyn Henderson, who passed away from cancer in 2017. The company has already raised a considerable £71,600 for the charity and is aiming to reach £100,000 by the end of the year. During the open day, the event managed to raise £8,500 from cash donations alone, with more expected once cashless donations have been calculated.
The open day was a great success, bringing together the community to celebrate an important milestone while raising money for a worthy cause. It was a privilege to be part of this celebration and I am pleased to see that Romford Bus Garage remains a vital part of our community, after seven decades of service to our town!
