AN 85-year-old man has set off on a nationwide bus trip.
Brother John Green is undertaking the adventure to raise funds and awareness of the Hospital of St Cross, in Winchester, where he has lived since 2015.
The trip will take Brother John from the almshouse around to UK, with John estimating it will take approximately six weeks.
He said: “It is going to be interesting, I think. Particularly because I am going to meet all sorts of people.”
READ MORE: 85-year-old man to embark on UK nationwide bus trip from Winchester
John will be travelling around the country by bus on Mondays to Friday, using his national concessionary bus pass. He will then spend weekends resting, writing updates on his journey and meeting with friends. He said: “It will be fun and give me a chance to meet the people who live there.”
John continued: “What I am looking forward to is when I get to Edinburgh, I am going across the river to where I spent most of my youth, which will be quite fun.
“Where the estate where we lived was there was an airfield and agriculture. But the airfield is gone now and a new town has been built on it. Where our home was is a new office for Shell Oil!
“All sorts of changes have been made it. I will like it all the same.”
Alongside raising awareness of the almshouse, which still has space for new residents, John is also hoping to raise funds for essential restoration projects, including for the 12th-century chapel.
John set off on his journey from the Hospital of St Cross on Thursday, May 1, starting his trip by travelling on a vintage bus provided by the Friends of King Alfred Buses to Winchester Bus Station, where he then continued his journey.
He was seen off by a crowd of people, including other brothers from the St Cross Almshouse, as well as the Mayor of Winchester Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith.
Cllr Gordon-Smith expressed his “great admiration for John going on this adventure”.
“It is always a great joy to have anything to do with St Cross. They are just the most wonderful group of people.
“This journey will raise awareness for St Cross and almshouses in general.”
Also present was Nick Phillips, CEO of the Almshouse Association. He said: “Being amongst The Brothers of St Cross reflects the great strength of the almshouse movement. A brotherhood, a community and good neighbours.
“Brother John is using his adventure to highlight to the world the great impact of this ancient community housing model, and we are most grateful to him for sharing the message. Brother John shows terrific ingenuity and a thirst for adventure. He will have a great time, as will those he meets.”
The Hospital of St Cross is the UK’s oldest almshouse which is still in continuous use. It will celebrate the 900th anniversary of its founding in 2032.
More information about John and his journey can be found on the Hospital of St Cross website.
