Week 7
The long road home, unexpected hiccups, incredible generosity of spirit and finally home to where his heart belongs.
Brother On A Bus
Meet Brother Green: The Brother on a Bus. Yay! He’s Back
At 85 years young, our indomitable Brother John Green (Hospital of St Cross Almshouse Resident) set off on an extraordinary solo adventure —This was an eight-week circumnavigation journey around the British Isles using good old public buses. Brother Green’s “Brother on a Bus” tour launched on May 1st, 2025. This wasn’t just about the miles he covered but a heartfelt mission to raise funds for the Hospital’s Charity, raise awareness about our Historic Hospital, and build excitement for our 900th anniversary in 2032.
Beloved resident Brother Green, is known for his bookbinding, volunteer work, boundless energy, and superb cooking skills. Throughout his Journey, Brother Green interviewed fellow travellers, highlighted sites of historic interest, and used weekly blogs to reflect during his Sunday rest stops. His monumental efforts caught the attention of The King — who sent his good wishes as President of the Almshouse Association, —The Bishop of Winchester, The Mayor of Winchester, and HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire.
Throughout John’s journey the momentum and news coverage built to a crescendo resulting in John being interviewed for BBC, many local radio stations, Good morning Britain and even had a mention on ‘Have I got News For You‘. With support at the highest levels and all bus companies throughout the British Isles unanimously supporting John magnificently on his epic trip. Brother Green’s journey did deliver a ‘National celebration of heritage, community, and good old-fashioned British grit’.
To retrospectively see John’s progress. Please view his weekly blog and day to day photo galleries below!
Brother Green returned, looking a picture of ‘Health & Vitality’ on June 17th at 5pm and was welcomed by the Mayor of Winchester, Trustees, and his fellow brothers and delighted staff. John was on the road for 43 Days!
The wonderful news is Brother Green raised £8,500 on his journey. All monies raised have helped preserve the stunning setting and charitable work of the hospital for generations to come.
WITH SPECIAL THANKS:
We would like to offer our special thanks to the Almshouse Association for their unedning support throught Bother John’s Project. Without this, we could not have carried this through. See their special report on Brother Green’s Journey. Click Here: https://www.almshouses.org/news/brother-johns-journey/
For more information on Almshouses and the Almshouse Association please visit:
Brother Green ON WHY HE DECIDED TO TAKE TO THE ROAD
"The idea is: we've had difficulty finding people to come here. So, I thought I'd raise a bit of publicity for people about the Hospital, and then they'd have a chance to come here....! It's a wonderful place!"
SPREAD THE WORD: SHARE TO SUPPORT…
…OR FOLLOW THE JOURNEY!
BROTHER GREEN’S ROUTE
Please note that whilst the free bus pass typically only works in England, Brother John has received special dispensation from the many kind coach operators on his route in Wales and Scotland to travel for free in those countries also. Anyone attempting a similar fundraising journey would need to seek the same permissions.
THE BROTHER ON A BUS DIARY
Week 6
From Cardiff to Cornwall, fuelled by tea, sausage rolls and so many small acts of kindness to touch his heart.
Week 5
Find out what Brother John’s been up to this week, as he explores stunning Wales and is welcomed everywhere he goes.
Week 4
From Glasgow to Chester, then home briefly for a very special occasion. Discover all the drama of Brother John’s fourth week on the road.
Week 3
Find out what Brother John’s been up to this week, charmed by sensational Scotland, looked after by lovely bus drivers and trips down memory lane.
Week 2
Find out what Brother John’s been up to this week, with huge distances travelled, new friends made and a few tricky challenges to bravely navigate.
Week 1
Find out what Brother John got up to after his fond farewells in Winchester, with updates from Brighton, Canterbury, Chelmsford and more.
For more on Brother John’s journey plus a complete list of media appearances, please visit the Brother on a Bus page at:
AND HE’S OFF, 1ST MAY 9AM! This is day one – scroll down for the latest
Alfred Buses' vintage bus for the very first leg
Outside of vintage bus courtesy of James Freeman of Alfred Buses
The bus arrives at the Hospital
Parking up
My send off
So many well wishers
Do you think he'll miss me?
Fond farewells
And we're off!
Seen off on the Stagecoach bus by a supportive group including Mary Curry, Britain's First Female Bus Driver, trained in 1973
Sharing a joke with the Mayor
Making sure all present and correct!
Waving farewell
Crossing Portsmouth Harbour passing Haslar Point, second, HMS Warrior.
This is Monica, who has a gift of the gab (her words) who needed to shelter from the sun, between Chichester and Littlehampton
DAY 2-5: BRIGHTON, Newhaven and canterbury
Well earned cuppa in Brighton
With Friar Aidan Murray in his lovely church
Fr. Aidan Murphy, Br. Anthony, Fr. Gabriel with Rev Emma Ham-Riche at dinner. I stayed the night with the monks, who are from Worth Abbey, have been implanted in the local community and run the Church of St. John the Baptist in Kemptown, Brighton. They maintain their monastic routines, Matins at 0630 - an idea for the Brothers of St Cross? - and three other Services each day and, after Compline at 2100, observe silence (unlike St Cross Brothers).
Brighton Pier in the morning light
12X Bus Driver aboard the award winning Coaster bus
Departing Brighton for Newhaven
Arriving at the Cathedral at Canterbury, where I found the friendliest, kindest and most helpful people on duty I have ever found anywhere.
At the pilgrim's stone - Canterbury Cathedral
DAY 6-8: Chelmsford, Lowestoft, King’s LYNN
The almshouse at Chelmsford
The almshouse at Chelmsford
The almshouse at Chelmsford
The almshouse at Chelmsford
The Lowestoft almshousse, Church Green Almshouse, is modern, built in 1964.
The Lowestoft almshousse, Church Green Almshouse, is modern, built in 1964.
View from the flat where Brother John stayed
The Lowestoft almshousse, Church Green Almshouse, is modern, built in 1964.
the history of King's Lynn, previously Bishop's Lynn, and, particularly of its involvement with the Hanseatic League, The Lynn part of the name devolves from old English for a lake, now silted up, and is the "Lin" in Lincoln is of the same derivation, the City still having its lake.
DAY 9-14: LINCOLN to EDINBURGH
Lincoln and Cathedral from the bus
Lincoln Cathedral from my lodgings
West Front Lincoln Cathedral from outside the precinct
The tower of Stt Botolphe's Church, known as "The Boston Stump", built in the 16th century and a landmark for fishermen. Taken from the Bus Station while changing buses
Hessle, Hull and the Humber from the Humber Bridge
Bridlington sea front from near the harbour
View from my window in Bridport
Doddington Hall
The nice bus driver who took me to Scarborough
Upper deck full and standing below
The queue, after I had got onto the bus and climbed to the upper deck
Abbey ruins above Whitby
At Durham Aged Miners
My first bus driver in Scotland!
DAY 15-21: SENSATIONAL SCOTLAND
Forth Bridge from Donibristle
Over the weekend, I visited the first commercial asparagus farm in the UK and was interested in the machinery that trimmed each harvested shoot to a standard length, sorted each shoot into small, medium and large sizes by thickness, so they could be bundled and sold on that basis.
Asparagus Trimming Machine
Driver of the No. 10 bus
Wayward passenger of the No. 10 bus
With Avoch in the background
The bridge over the Dornoch Firth
Bus driver Inverness to Thurso
Thurso beach
Gate to St Peter's: There is, also, an ancient kirk, St. Peter's, which dates from the early 13th century, replacing one reputedly founded in 1125, much the same time as the foundation of St. Cross.
Ruins of St. Peter's Kirk
WEEKS 4-5: SCOTLAND, THE NORTH, AND WALES
Shiel bus with Craeg behind the wheel
Craeg and I grab a snap before heading for Fort William
Finally, the famous battered Mars bar located beside Central Station!!
Leaving Glasgow in the rain.
Thr trusty pass that saw him round most of Scotland
Impressive concourse at Preston
Lancaster bus station
Bus to Chester breaks down
Engineer trying to fix the bus door
Safely arrived at Chester station
And he's off again!
Spotted on the return to Chester
More detail on the arch in Chester
Criccieth Castle, just North of Porthmadog
Stopped at level crossing in Pembry
WEEK 6: from cardiff to cornwall
The first electric bus of the trip in Wales
St Monica's in Bristol
St Monica's in Bristol
St Monica's in Bristol
Chapel at St Monica's in Bristol
Layout of the Cote Lane site of the St. Monica Trust's retirement home, where I stayed
Tiverton Almshouse
Tiverton Almshouse
Near the Bus Station, there is a little garden, tucked away, with a War Memorial to those who died in the Burma Campaign of the Second World War.
Land's End winds mean the trencher was a no-go!
WEEK 7: THE HOMECOMING
The warmest of welcomes the Railway Station/Bus Station Cafe, run by the splendid Caroline Jervis
Enjoying a cuppa at Caroline's cafe in Redruth, an establishment emblazoned with Brother on a Bus material, photographs, etc
St Michael's Mount through the mists
Inspector Paul. Making sure I catch my buses in his area, again!
Driver Tony preparing to take the 56 to Padstow
Every day's a busy day in the life of a Cornish bus driver!
Smiling through the losing streak at Newton Abbot racecourse
Met by the former Mayor on my return
Back home to where my heart belongs...
...with my fan club ready to welcome me!
LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOUR
VIDEO INTERVIEWS
Playlist
3 Videos
THANK YOU!
James Freeman: Retired bus company director and now a part-time bus driver for Stagecoach in Winchester and vintage bus enthusiast, for his unstinting organisational support to Brother John throughout this trip. James checked, amended and supervised all the timings, as well as lobbying and negotiating with all the bus companies to be on board with John’s circumnavigation, be it in England, or in both Scotland and Wales (in each of which all the operators agreed to fund free travel for John). Without James, who pulled in lots of favours from his lifetime in the British bus industry, this would have been quite a lot more difficult.
Gerry Harmon: PR Director of the Almshouse Association, who has carried the main point of contact for the support group set up for John for his journey, including working very hard to fill gaps in his accommodation schedule. Organised interviews with the press, set up a lively, current and relevant page on the Almshouse Association website, as well as offering John vital accommodation support throughout parts of his journey.
