Retiree celebrates bus pass with epic 840-mile ride

A former taxi driver has kick-started his retirement by travelling 840 miles almost entirely by bus to raise cash for charity.

Alan Beckett, 68, departed from Fair Havens hospice in Southend-on-Sea on 1 June and took 22 buses to arrive in John o' Groats in Caithness, Scotland, four days later.

Beckett - who has raised £1,720 for Havens Hospices - booked B&B rooms and also camped in the wild.

He said he enjoyed passing through "beautiful scenery" and the company of local people.

Beckett started his adventure on the First Essex X30 service from Southend Hospital to Stansted Airport, and it ended with the number 80 Stagecoach route from Thurso to John o' Groats.

He travelled through towns and cities including Cambridge, Peterborough, Doncaster, Sheffield, Leeds, Tadcaster in North Yorkshire and Inverness.

On just one occasion he treated himself to a car journey, when his daughter drove him between her home in Bourne (Lincolnshire) and Doncaster.

Weather caused delays on the buses in Newcastle, but a "complete stranger" arranged free accommodation for him.

"I was overwhelmed by that gesture," he said.

There was an unexpected twist when he realised his bus pass was not valid in Scotland, but he said the £56 he ended up spending on tickets north of the border was worth it.

"When I got to Scotland, some of the buses were very plush."

Beckett recalled picking people up from Havens Hospices while working as a taxi driver and said his daughter then began working at Fair Havens.

"The staff were always the nicest people," he said.

Havens Hospices provides care and support to children and adults with incurable conditions in Essex.

A spokesperson said: "The charity must raise £208,000 every week to continue its vital work, and it is thanks to supporters like Alan that this is possible."

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