Happy Easter everyone. Alas, essential maintenance requires our bus to be taken out of action 30 March to 9 April, but we’ll be back with our full scheduled services and a packed Community Bus calendar once our bus is returned. One key piece of information for you all is that all bookings for the bus will now be taken on 07745 911940. This is our new mobile phone and enables us to pass it around as different individuals take on the booking’s responsibilities. Please pop this in your contacts!
As well as our scheduled services we have trips to Totnes on Friday 10th April, Truro on Wednesday 15th April and Looe on Friday 1st May. We also have an exciting excursion to the Box Museum in Plymouth on 24th April to see the Beryl Cook’s ‘Pride and Joy’ exhibition. You may also have seen her characters popping up around Plymouth; all associated with celebrating her birth 100 years ago. The Bus is the usual cost of £5 return and admission is free although to ensure access, names of the bus passengers will be booked a slot. So come and join us! A full list of excursions and other social/cultural events can be found on our website www.dscombus.com.
As ever, it continues to be most encouraging to see so many attendees at our Friends of the Bus sponsored monthly coffee mornings. It’s a great chance for me to update you on Bus matters and for our community to get together for a snack and a little fun (Raffle & Quiz). Our next date is Wednesday 8th April and once again, it would be great to see everyone. Further events organised by our wonderful ‘FoB’ can be found on their Facebook page: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/11201784560529710). The next major event is the ever-popular Quiz night fund raiser at the Smugglers Inn on 18 April. This includes the money spinning ‘Play your cards right’ with £350 being won at the last bingo night!
There have been a number of requests for ‘Bus hiring’ lately so just to remind everyone that this can be done for local organisations that are registered with us (one-off £10 fee), although the bus must be driven by one of the established bus association drivers at a cost of £2/mile. We need time to ‘trawl’ for drivers so please give us plenty of notice. Contact is dsconbus@gmail.com.
The Swim Club, run by Emma Lock, choses a variety of nearby locations for sea swimmers of all standards and hardiness, to get together in a friendly environment to partake of some simple shore swims. The next outing is Monday 27th of April. Contact Emma on 07970244202 if you fancy giving it a go and our bus will pick you up.
NEW DRIVERS or COMMITTEE MEMBERS. Our bus committee and drivers, along with all our administrators and fund-raisers have created a very friendly and professional team that would love to welcome you into our fold. We are always on the lookout for drivers to do a one or two runs each month and we are currently looking for a bookings rep. This role involves taking phone bookings for the bus and passing them onto our Drivers If you can help we’d just love to hear from you – more info at https://www.dscombus.com/volunteers.
Rob Gascoigne
Chairman
dscombus@gmail.com
A fully packed Community Bus calendar shows no sign of abating in the future as it continues to support a fully scheduled service and a variety of cultural and social events around our community. As well as our routine journeys, in March we have trips to LOOE on Friday 6th and TRURO on Wednesday 18th, and in April we also have trips to EXETER on Wednesday 1st and to TOTNES on Friday 10th. The bus is also rapidly filling up for our trip to the Exeter Crafting Fayre at Westpoint – this is a creative craft show that provides a fantastic platform for craft lovers to showcase their creative talents and includes many demonstrations, attractions and shopping opportunities. Cost is £8 entry & £15 bus fare. More details on our website - https://www.dscombus.com/events. In April, we have a trip to the Beryl Cook exhibition at The Box in Plymouth on Friday 24th April to look forward to (entry free + £5 bus fare).
As ever, our tireless fund raisers from the ‘Friends of the Bus’ continue with a fun packed programme of events with the next big social event being a Bingo night at The Smugglers Inn on Saturday 21st March. Chris, Debbie and the staff at the Smugglers would be delighted to take your booking and look forward to welcoming you to this event which has steadily grown in popularity over the last year – so please do book to avoid disappointment. The Friends of the Bus Facebook site: (https://www.facebook.com/groups/11201784560529710) contains lots of information on future Friends of the bus events.
It’s also great to see so many attendees at our Friends of the Bus sponsored monthly coffee mornings. It’s a great chance for me to update you on Bus matters and for our community to get together for a snack and a little fun (Raffle & Quiz). Our next date is Wednesday 11th March and once again, it would be great to see everyone.
People may also have noted that we continue our support for the “Swim Bus’ who’s next outing is Monday 16th of March. The swim club, run by Emma Lock, choses a variety of nearby locations for sea swimmers of all standards and hardiness, to get together in a friendly environment to partake of some simple shore swims. Contact Emma on 07970244202 if you fancy giving it a go (or just tagging along!).
We maintain an updated bus schedule and full list of events/announcements (and a few photos from previous excursions) on our website at www.dscombus.com so do take a look and pop it your favourites.
NEW DRIVERS or COMMITTEE MEMBERS. Our bus committee and drivers, along with all our administrators and fund-raisers have created a very friendly and professional team that would love to welcome you into our fold. We are always on the lookout for drivers to do a one or two runs each month and we are currently looking for a bookings rep. This role involves taking phone bookings for the bus and passing them onto our Drivers If you can help we’d just love to hear from you – more info at https://www.dscombus.com/volunteers.
Rob Gascoigne
Chairman
dscombus@gmail.com
As I’ve also mentioned on numerous occasions, we are truly blessed to have such an effective and dedicated fund-raising system supporting our bus. The tireless ‘Friends of the Bus’ are already busy planning a number of events with the next big social event being Bingo night at The Smugglers Inn on Saturday21 March. A huge thanks to Chris, Debbie and the staff at the Smugglers who continue to steadfastly support our fund-raising efforts. Thank you. The bingo and quiz nights continue to gain in popularity, and the Christmas auction raised a staggering £3000! The Friends of the Bus Facebook site (https://www.facebook.com/groups/11201784560529710) contains lots of information on future events.
The Downderry & District Community Bus Association is a voluntary organisation - Charity Number 1000967 - formed to serve the welfare and needs of the Downderry, Hessenford, Narkus and Seaton communities. The community bus provides a regular weekly link with both Plymouth and Liskeard and an early morning service between Seaton and Downderry during school terms. Other popular, regular destinations include Truro, Tavistock, Totnes, Exeter and Looe. The timetable and details of monthly excursions, usually on a Friday, are available in the Nut Tree monthly newsletter, on local websites (including this one, see below) and on the village noticeboards.
Concessionary fare cards can be used on the Plymouth and Liskeard routes. Under 15s travel at half price and there is no charge for under 5s. A gentle reminder to all passengers who use discretionary passes on our registered routes, namely the Plymouth and Liskeard services. Can you please try to remember always to have your pass with you, as it is possible that an inspector could choose to come on board during a journey to check up that our claims for reimbursement are being made properly. Many thanks.
To book a seat please phone 07745 911940 on weekdays between 9am and 5pm . You can also support your bus by joining the 300 Club and buying a monthly draw ticket. It only costs £12 for the year. To join please contact Jo Woodley on 01503 250489, or email here: or come to one of our sociable Tea and Cake afternoons usually held at Downderry & Seaton Village Hall. Check the events diary for dates.There is always a raffle and the ever popular puzzle and book stall. Phone Jane Mather for bus hire bookings by affiliated groups on 01503 250840, For any other matters please contact Robert Gascoigne, Chairman -email dscombus@gmail.com
We are always looking to recruit new drivers and helpers.
To view the Annual Review for financial year 2024/25 as reported at the Annual General Meeting held on 30 October 2025 in Downderry and Seaton Village Hall..Click here to visit Downderry & Seaton's website : www.dscombus.com
