Biggest walking bus at Buster’s Big Bash

Altogether 330 children, parents and carers marched through Canterbury high street as part of the free mini-festival Buster’s Big Bash, organised each year by educational charity the KM Charity Team with support from Independent Music Productions.

Buster's Big Bash 2019 from Inspire Schools on Vimeo.

Waving the chequered flag was Julia Honour from Specsavers, joined by Diggerland mascots Duggy and Dotty, and of course Buster Bug.

The force was strong in participants brandishing homemade green travel flags and banners as they celebrated creating Kent’s longest walking bus - all under the watchful eyes of two Stormtroopers from UK Garrison.

After the walk children completed activities at Dane John Gardens in return for goody bags of treats from Whitefriars, Vattenfall, Orbit and Three R’s Teacher Recruitment.

Challenges included a balance bike adventure course run by Primary Sports Giants; Atlantis Go Karts; circus skills with Paul Incredible; giant Connect 4 and skittles with Golding Vision; Kent Sport netball; Specsavers Spacehopper races; ‘beat the goalie’; and Active Life Yoga.

Also generating excitement was a fire engine from Kent Fire and Rescue, a Kent Police patrol car and a Tesla supercar supplied by Diggerland. Plus YMS Travel brought Mabel the classic Routemaster big red bus for children to explore.

Youngsters planted seeds at the paper potters stand, unleashed their inner artist painting stones for the #BusterBugRocks social media campaign; and collected fruit bags and drinks supplied by McDonald’s.

The event concluded with a teddy bears’ picnic and a performance from Paul Incredible of Kinetic Circus.

Sheriff of Canterbury, Cllr Jeanette Stockley, welcomed the crowds, tried out the circus skills and judged the Best Dressed Teddy contest. The winners were Meggie, 11, from Luddenham School in Faversham; Amy, seven, from Great Chart Primary School in Ashford; Samuel, six, from St Michael’s RC Primary School in Chatham; and Riley, five, from Lansdowne Primary School in Sittingbourne.

Prizes included gifts from Whirligig in Canterbury and vouchers for Diggerland, Canterbury Tales and Canterbury Treasure Trail.

The free event promotes the virtues of green travel and is a thank you to the families participating in the KM Charity Team’s services for schools Walk on Wednesday (Wow), Green Footsteps, Walking Bus and home reading programme Buster’s Book Club.

Simon Dolby, CEO of the charity, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome families from far and wide to Buster’s Big Bash - many of whom come back year after year - and we are delighted to set another record for our walking bus challenge.”

Schools will receive a 20% discount on Wow for the next academic year if they join before the deadline of July 1. The scheme aims to promote a healthier lifestyle, reduce traffic congestion and improve safety at the school gate. Visit the Walk on Wednesday website or contact Deb Goodger at dgoodger@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 08442 640291.

For details of Buster’s Book Club, visit the Buster's Book Club website

Contact Details

Joanne Homes
Telephone: 0844 264 0291
Email: jhomes@thekmgroup.co.uk