Chiswick School Minibus Turns Up on Ukrainian Border
Vicar of Christ Church Turnham Green uses it in to help relief effort
The Chiswick School minibus can bee seen in the background
The Chiswick School bus has recently been well off its usual patch having been driven to the border of Ukraine and Poland.
It was lent by the head teacher of the school Laura Ellener to the Reverend Richard Moy, Vicar of Christ Church on Turnham Green, to bring supplies to refugees fleeing Vladimir Putin's war of aggression in their country.
Richard was joined by his friend Danny Williams, who he rowed with at Cambridge and who, until recently, lived in Ukraine with his wife and family until recently. Danny was able to provide local contacts to maximise the effectiveness of the effort.
Richard is a director of SOMA UK, a relief charity which helps out in crisis situations throughout the world.
The Chiswick School minibus being loaded up in the UK
The minibus left Chiswick on Wednesday (9 March) packed with medical supplies which have now been delivered into Ukraine and it was subsequently restocked with supplies such as nappies to give to people on the Polish side of the border. Cash donated by people in the UK was used to go to local supermarkets to buy essentials.
The long journey did take its toll on the vehicle and it needed some maintenance which was provided free by a Peugeot garage in Poland.
On its return journey it took 12 passengers who have been given safe haven by various countries across Europe and will be dropped off along the way.
The minibus returned home safely on Saturday after its 103 hour trip.
Richard Moy said it was a tragedy the refugees weren't coming to the UK
Reverend Richard said 'tragically' none of the refugees was heading to the UK but added, "It was great to give things directly to people (such as a teddy bear knitted on the Isle of Wight into the hands of a young girl needing comfort, powerbanks etc), But what has been even more overwhelming have been the people opening up their homes to take in displaced Ukrainian, and in Germany especially queues of people at train stations waiting to meet people they’ve never met and take them home with them. Thank you for everyone in the UK who has got in touch to say you’d love to do that too. Keep writing to members of parliament and let them know."
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March 13, 2022