Week 5
Brother John’s Journey – Week Five Diary
30 May – 5 June 2025
Friday 30 May – A Quiet Day and a Radio Debut
Returning home briefly for a landmark family birthday, Brother John’s weekend began in a more contemplative mode, taking time to “relax with the Brothers” in the Brothers’ Common Room at the Hospital of St Cross. The air of peace and camaraderie seemed to fuel his gentle reflections. He also made a short appearance on Radio Winchester, though he confessed he didn’t catch the exact time of broadcast!
Saturday 31 May – Rest, Reminiscence, and Ready to Roll
He shared a delightful image of a Brother of St Cross dozing in the sun—“the somnolent figure is a Brother of St Cross,” he clarified, adding a playful note about their “siesta” in the gentle warmth of Winchester. Preparations were underway for his next set of travels, but first, an evening to celebrate with family!
Sunday 1 June – Late Nights and Early Mornings in Chester
After a Saturday of celebrations at his Granddaughter’s 21st birthday party, he admitted he was grateful for a quieter evening. “I was not back at the Hospital until after 2300,” he wrote. “I understand it was an all-nighter for many. I’m so glad I’m not young anymore!” Brother John spent a peaceful night in Chester at the Pied Bull, ideally placed near the bus station.
Monday 2 June – North Wales Adventures and Hidden Surprises
Leaving Chester on an Arriva 11 bus, he marvelled at how fresh and new this leg of his journey felt: “I have travelled neither the North nor the West Coast of Wales, so all was new to my eye.” As the bus hugged the Dee Estuary, he noted the vast mud flats at low tide and the elegant new bridge at Flint, a single spire of concrete “draped with cables like a modern cathedral of transport.”
His bus route took him past Holywell, home of St Winifride’s Well, where he recounted the legend of the lady who was beheaded by Caradog—a tale as old as the hills of Wales.
Near Mostyn, the sight of the TSS Duke of Lancaster, a former railway steamer turned “fun ship,” startled him: “Beached, at right angles to the shore, in a bid to dodge Sunday trading laws!”
He was also struck by the endless rows of mobile homes around Rhyl, jokingly remarking there must be “thousands upon thousands” of them for miles. His final leg into Bangor was made memorable by a helpful bus driver who guided a stranded man to an industrial estate to recover his car—a small gesture that highlighted the kindness of strangers.
Brother John was delighted by the warm welcome he received at every stop: “Arriva had forewarned drivers and station staff that I was loose in North Wales, so I was politely and adroitly shepherded from one bus onto another—super, friendly service.” He checked into the Traxx Hotel in Bangor, grateful for a clean room at an “astonishingly good value” £45.
Tuesday 3 June – Mountains and Ancient Pilgrims’ Paths
In the morning, Bangor locals recognised him and his mission, offering warm greetings and even guiding him to a local café for breakfast. With the TrawsCymru T5 bus Day Pass in hand, he set off south along the Llyn Peninsula—the peaks of Snowdonia to the left, farmland and glimpses of Anglesey to the right. He spotted Bardsey Island, once a pilgrimage site, now a haven for birds.
Brother John narrated the journey’s landmarks: Caernarfon, Criccieth Castle, and Porthmadog—once bustling with slate shipments, now known for its railway and gateway to Snowdonia’s rugged beauty. Only the disused Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Station marred the view: “A blight on the landscape for generations to come,” he lamented.
He also introduced the driver to chocolate-coated coffee beans at Dolgellau—a sweet treat shared on the road. After a long day’s travel through untouched valleys and past the Cregennan Lakes, he reached Aberystwyth, then finally Cardigan around 5.09pm—“about six and a half hours travelling, with one change,” he wrote, ready to rest for the evening.
Wednesday 4 June – Iron Age Echoes in Cardigan
Leaving his no-breakfast hotel in Cardigan, Brother John found sustenance at Crwst, a friendly spot with homemade bread, jam, and marmalade. He recounted meeting “an amusing local man who insisted on not being filmed, nor photographed, nor recorded,” who spoke with wry nostalgia: “He was disappointed that I was not staying to look around Cardigan, assuring me everything here was as the world was 25 years ago.”
The T5 bus took him out through the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. In a valley, he saw four round huts—“a reconstruction of an Iron Age encampment where experiments in prehistoric farming take place, also once the site of a medieval fort,” he noted with fascination. Arriving in Haverfordwest, he observed that the bus station was being rebuilt—another reminder of how places change while old spirits endure.
Thursday 5 June – A New Dawn, a New Interview
The week ended with exciting news: an upcoming interview with the BBC on Sunday morning, a chance for Brother John to share more about his journey and the mission of St Cross. “Talked with Will Morris. I will be on the show c. 08:15 on Sunday,” he reported, buoyed by the promise of his story reaching even more hearts.
Brother John’s Reflections
Through endless valleys, seaside towns, and ancient pilgrim sites, Brother John’s spirit of curiosity and kindness shone as bright as ever this week. From chance encounters with locals to legendary saints’ wells, each mile added to a growing tapestry of stories, linked by laughter, gentle reflection, and a bus driver’s friendly wave.
