28th July 2018 - Melksham Carnival

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Something special with regard to public transport that you've not yet seen in Melksham - Saturday 28th July 2018

[grahame]

Follow being circulated locally. Other welcome to join.

Melksham Carnival - 28th July 2018

BACKGROUND

We (TransWilts and Melksham RUG^» (Rail User Group - about)) are supporting First Bus in the Carnival Parade - they will have one of their "Discover" buses in the parade, and will be handing out discount vouchers to promote their new services during the Summer Holiday.  We will be walking as part of their group, handing out TIMETABLES - and I have put together a 16 page Melksham Public Transport leaflet, 1000 copies (A5, 16 pages) and 100 large print (A4) being delivered to me tomorrow. The timetable includes all Melksham services that run 7 days a week, plus a table of all other public transport services that run on at least five days, with links to the providers.  As well as help from First, we have a grant from RailFuture which has helped with the printing costs.  The timetable brochure is online at http://atrebatia.info/carnival_timetables_a4.pdf

The Discover bus, and team from First Bus, will be arriving at the Copper Avon Car Park (just on the station side) of the Town Bridge before 17:30.  That's the last time that the roads will be open for general traffic.  We will then (18:00 start) walk around the town - a route that will take perhaps an hour at a quite slow pace - before getting back to the car park. 

Our literature will be preloaded onto the bus (it will be picking it up from the Coronation Road stop) on the way into town.

REQUEST

Can you walk with us please?  Gather at 17:30 may need to be a few minutes earlier, walk 18:00 to around 19:00. 
(r.s.v.p. - no need if you have already passed on apologies as it's a busy weekend)

Lisa will be able to do pick up / drop off runs if needed - Melksham Station, and indeed further if needed. We are far more limited in options here, because I have just got "Frozen Shoulder" that stops me from a number of things including driving, lifting, reaching into crowds, writing with anything other than a keyboard)

DETAIL

If you have a TransWilts T shirt - great.  If not I can provide some and / or First will have some "Discover" T shirts.

There will be a group of around 10 of us, and 10 with the First Bus.  Objective is to get public transport timetables out into the community.

I have "done" the carinval before like this / will be around to help / talk with people, etc.  It's a good fun afternoon.

Weather forecast is cooler and overcast - i.e. PERFECT for the walk ;-)

[grahame]

If you're wondering what the carnival looks like -

http://www.wellho.net/mouth/4287_TransWilts-CRP-walking-in-Melksham-Carnival.html

and here is our (2014) group



Diffenence this time we'll have a bus too!

[rogerw]

I regret that I will not be able to join you as I don't finish my lock keeping duties until 1800

[Bus Queen]

Don't forget to wash & iron all of your TW t shirts Graham you don't want your team looking wrinkled 

[Christina Biggs FOSBR]

Ah, that was a guard of honour for you Grahame (and your dogs) that was!

Esther much smaller and me with a lot longer hair! Both Brendan and Bernard there.  (When Brendan and I first started going out I kept calling him Bernard so now when there's a case of mistaken identity his reply is "must have been Bernard" - but with both alibis in the photo what is one to do?


Tina

[grahame]

A couple of pictures from yesterday.





Somewhere around 15 of us - all with yellow Discover or TransWilts tops - walked in the Melksham Carnival.  Almost an entire print run of 1000 special leaflets - listing all public transport available from and in Melksham - was distributed to the crowds.

[SandTEngineer]

Well done Grahame and team.  It looks as though you had a bit of rain but hopefully you dodged most of it!

[grahame]

Well done Grahame and team.  It looks as though you had a bit of rain but hopefully you dodged most of it!

Poured with rain during the setup (we had a bus to shelter in  ) then dry for the walk - a bit more rain at the very end of the breakup

Amazing how how the crowds were still out (though I suppose Mom and Dad were going to watch little Willy in the parade no matter what the weather!

Five (or if you check the reflections, six) of the team at the start.


Hugely illustrative of how transport industry providers and the community can come together to help reach those people who aren't regular public transport users so won't be seen on the bus or at the station to be updated on what's available.

[Christina Biggs FOSBR]

Great stuff - sorry we missed it. Perhaps next year give us a shout about a month in advance?

Tina