September Newsletter

Lisa Bradshaw

Sep 23

4 min read

Newsletter 03

September 2026

Hello everyone,

A very warm welcome to our third Transport17 newsletter!

We’re so pleased to have you with us. Please share this with any friends and family that may enjoy reading about Transport 17. We'd also love any feedback about the newsletter, feel free to reply to this email with any comments or suggestions?

Ten Years Behind the Wheel and Making a Huge Difference

A catch-up with Andy, one of Transport 17’s volunteer drivers as he retires from driving our minibuses.

Ten years ago, Andy was looking for an opportunity to volunteer. Having spent half his working life as a bus mechanic, Transport 17 seemed a familiar place to put his experience to good use. But it was the people, rather than the buses, who made the lasting impression.

What does he remember most about his first day behind the wheel?

“The gratitude of the passengers, which never ended week after week.”

That appreciation, along with the friendliness of fellow volunteers and their willingness to help, has been a memorable part of his decade with the team.

Afternoon tea and an unexpected festive treat

One particularly fond memory is taking a group of passengers & carers to Chatsworth Farm Shop for afternoon tea.

“They all enjoyed a well-earned break and a run in Derbyshire,” he recalls.

Another memorable journey involved a little more improvisation. One December, while taking passengers home from St John’s, the bus refused to start halfway through the drop-offs. A call to the office brought Liz to the rescue - with a booster pack, mince pies and sweets.

While Andy worked on getting the bus started, Liz shared out the treats.

“This changed the conversation from ‘How long are we going to be here?’ to ‘Oh, this is nice, I didn’t expect mince pies!’”

A frustrating delay became an unexpected moment of festive cheer.

Everyone has a story

Getting to know passengers has brought plenty of discoveries along the way. His advice is simple: take the time to talk and listen.

“Many have worked in Africa and India or Canada. Others will tell you of the times they worked in factories and the dangers and poor conditions. Some have played sport or have a knowledge of natural history.”

Behind every passenger is a lifetime of experiences, interests and stories.

“If you start a conversation, it’s amazing what you will find out.”

He has also seen the difference a regular outing can make: new passengers arriving at lunch clubs, forming friendships and gaining something to look forward to the following week.

Practical advice and a little kindness

For anyone joining Transport 17 as a volunteer driver, Andy offers advice that is both practical and thoughtful.

“Look after your passenger assistant- those side doors are hard to shut from inside, especially when facing uphill.

Always try to be cheerful; your passenger might not have seen anyone for a week.”

Asked what he is most proud of after ten years?

Andy's answer is modest:

“I’m not really proud, I just hope that I have made a difference.”

And finally, how would he like passengers and fellow volunteers to remember his time with Transport 17?

“Friendly and helpful.”

Two simple words that mean so much in a service built around people looking after one another.

A heartfelt THANK YOU Andy

As Andy retires from driving, we want to say a heartfelt thank you for everything he has given to Transport 17 over the past ten years. From his kindness behind the wheel to putting his mechanical skills to work on those little bus repairs, he has helped us in so many ways.

He will be greatly missed by passengers and fellow volunteers alike.

Andy, you hoped you had made a difference - please know that you absolutely have.

We send you our warmest wishes for your retirement and hope you’ll keep in touch.

They did it!

The 45th Great North Run

Our volunteer driver Lisa and her husband David completed the Great North Run on 13th September, raising £1,060 so far for Transport 17!

Their legs are only just recovering, but there’s still time to donate! If you meant to sponsor them and forgot, it’s not too late, just click the button below.

A huge thank you to them both and to everyone who has donated so far!

JustGiving Page

Happy 100th Birthday, Audrey!

Our incredible passenger Audrey celebrated her 100th birthday this month with a get-together among friends at Dore Old School lunch club.

Her secret? Keep reading and researching!

Audrey completed a master’s degree at 70 and kept fit with adventures including the Three Peaks and the Coast to Coast walk.

Audrey says she couldn’t get to lunch club without Transport 17, and we’re so pleased to help her stay connected with friends.

Happy 100th birthday, Audrey, from all of us at Transport 17!

It’s Never Too Early to Mention the C Word…

Christmas! Save the date for our Christmas Fayre on 28th November, from 10am–12.30pm. We’ll reveal the venue in our October newsletter.

In the meantime, please start putting aside any bottles or goodies suitable for our bottle stall and tombola. Your donations will help make it a lovely fundraiser for Transport 17.

Pop it in your diary, we’d love to see you there!