Week 6
Brother John’s Journey – Week Six Diary
6–12 June 2025 | Cardiff to Cornwall
Thursday 6 June – A Rainy Departure, a Warm Welcome
Brother John’s journey began under heavy rain as he travelled from Cardiff to Newport, then to Chepstow and finally on to Bristol, where visibility was poor but hospitality was abundant. At Cardiff, he was met by Dan and Chloe from Newport Bus, who presented him with a prized Newport Bus key. In Newport, a “charming young lady” gifted him a bag of thoughtful items—a water bottle, wallet, and a rechargeable power pack shaped like a bus. “Most useful,” he said with a smile.
Friday 7 June – CARING Bristol
In Bristol, Brother John stayed at the St Monica Trust Retirement Home, a post-WWI estate established by the Wills family. He was struck by its scale—home to some 270 residents at this location alone, with 80 in care and around 1,250 residents across the Trust’s network. It was a place rich in community and quiet dignity. “A remarkable example of long-term social care,” he noted.
Saturday 8 June – Through Somerset’s Sacred Spine
His bus journey took him out of Bristol via the 374, through Wells—where he was awestruck by the Cathedral, calling it “perhaps the finest in Europe, if not the world.” He passed Glastonbury, catching a view of the Tor and the ruins of the Abbey, then crossed the Somerset Levels. At Taunton, he switched to the X22 to Tiverton, where he would stay the weekend in the local almshouse.
Sunday 9 June – Tiverton’s History and Hospitality
Upon arrival in Tiverton, Brother John was met by Nicki, Housing Manager at the Tiverton Almshouse Trust, and taken to John Greenaway Close. The Trust had 83 units, primarily in two locations, dating back to the 16th century, founded by three wealthy merchants. He met George, a resident, and the Warden, and was shown the grounds—peaceful and conveniently located near the Bus Station, with the River Lowman flowing quietly nearby. A hidden garden close to the station held a Burma Campaign War Memorial, which he described as “a powerful and personal touch of remembrance.”
Monday 10 June – Buses and Fellowship
After thanking the Trust team, he boarded the Stagecoach 346 to South Molton, which transformed into the 155 to Barnstaple—a switch he discovered through a friendly exchange with the driver during a breather at the stop. At Barnstaple, he had a welcome cuppa and sausage roll before catching the Stagecoach 85 to Launceston, where he was met by Rev. Dr. Michael Dobson.
Staying at the vicarage, Brother John enjoyed supper and thoughtful conversation. He learned that Rev. Dobson was a Planter Priest—part of a church initiative to revive struggling parishes. “Such a lovely couple,” he wrote, “I wish them every possible success in Cornwall.”
Tuesday 11 June – Monitored Travel and Real Generosity
The next morning, Rev. Dobson returned him to the bus station, where they met a jovial GoCornwall Inspector, tasked with ensuring his seamless travel through Cornwall. Brother John took the 97 to Camelford, where the Inspector and a colleague awaited him once again.
While waiting for the next bus, he shared a story that left an impression: two drivers, during a handover, had quietly paid the fare between them for a young woman in distressed circumstances. “Genuine charity in action,” he said. “No announcements, just kindness done properly.”
From Camelford, he boarded a GoCornwall 95 to Wadebridge, which later transformed into the 94 to Truro. The journey dipped down to Port Isaac, then back inland. The transformations, he admitted, “would have confounded even the most diligent timetable reader.” After picking up passengers from Newquay Airport (RAF St Mawgan), the bus continued on to Taunton, where he caught a First Kernow T1 to Redruth.
There, a supporter and Hospital trustee had arranged a stay at a nearby Airbnb, which he described as “clean, comfortable, quiet and convenient—what more could one ask?”
Wednesday 12 June – Western Extremities
From Redruth, Brother John made his way to Land’s End, where the wind made short work of dignity: “The wind at Land’s End doesn’t allow for trenchers…” he quipped. The landscape, though rugged, was deeply moving—a fitting punctuation to this westward chapter of his journey.
