Iconic Bus Shelter MK bus vandalised

As one of the founders of The Bus Shelter MK, saying farewell to our iconic bus has been difficult. It is where the charity first began welcoming guests and where we started being able to help change the lives of those sleeping on the streets of Milton Keynes.

We made the very difficult decision for the bus to retire when the Covid pandemic hit as it was unable to provide individual, socially distanced sleeping arrangements for guests. So given it’s earlier heritage as a tour bus for the Robbie Williams and Rod Steward, we had hoped it would be able to move on to it’s next home and a new adventure. This however wasn’t to be.

Sadly, just days before the bus was to move on, it was vandalised. Significant damage was caused breaking into the vehicle; the windscreen and windows were smashed, doors bent and body panels dented. The bus stereo system was also ripped out.

With so much damage, it was deemed beyond economic repair and so instead of moving on to a new chapter, it has unfortunately had to be scrapped.

We are proud of the contribution that the bus has made to help the homeless of Milton Keynes. I know I’ll never forget in the early days of the charity when we took the bus into intu MK and what a huge impact it had in the shopping centre. It was our first fundraising drive and its sheer presence attracted so much attention. The positive response to what we were doing made it such a special moment for everyone at the charity and I know how proud I was of what we were doing.

At our new site we continue The Bus Shelter MK journey. In recognition of the huge contribution that the bus made in helping to transform the lives of the homeless of Milton Keynes we’ve added a very special bus graphic to the end wall of the guest sleeping accommodation.

The team at The Bus Shelter MK have many great memories of life on the bus. It provided the 61 guests who slept on the bus an address. It gave them hope as they moved away from a life on the streets of Milton Keynes. They called it home. The bus will always hold a special place in our hearts.

I’ve shared one of my memorable moments of the Bus, it would be great to hear your memorable Bus stories too. Please share them with us.

Dave Pickering
Vice Chair, The Bus Shelter MK