‘I don’t know what I would do without shopping bus service’

The free service, sponsored by the Co-op, launched more than a decade ago and picks up islanders from their homes and takes them to a Co-op store twice a week.

Tony Corbin was one of the founders of the service and continues to drive the bus.

‘The levels of people using the service has stayed the same this whole time,’ he said.

‘We will even do two rounds of people if too many have registered to fit in one bus, because if they can’t drive they can’t wait a whole week without food.’

He added that anyone can use the service regardless of who they are and how old they are.

Jane El Korashy lives at Rosaire Court and likes to use the service on both occasions each week when she can.

‘I don’t know what I would do without it as I have no one to shop for me,’ she said.

‘I have made friends through the service, as I’m not always sure when people are in at the care home for me to visit.'

Janet Brown and Beryl Le Moigne would go food shopping together.

When Mrs Brown could no longer drive, Mrs Le Moigne read about the Ron Short bus service in the Guernsey Press.

‘We really do appreciate the service as we can’t drive ourselves and taxis get expensive, but it’s very helpful, especially when the weather is not good,’ they said.

‘We try to go twice a week depending on how many groceries we’ve got left, but it’s nice to go to two different places.’

The bus service takes islanders to St Martin’s Co-op on a Tuesday and St Sampson’s Co-op on a Friday.

‘It is a demand-led service, so people register their place the afternoon before so we know where to pick them up from,’ said Rob Harnish, managing director of the Ron Short Centre.

‘Some people prefer the St Sampson’s shop so they can also go to the bank on the Bridge, some people prefer the St Martin’s shop because of the deli and variety in food, and some people come along for both trips.’

He said that the service also helped to overcome mental health issues and loneliness, as it allows islanders who do not often get to leave their homes to socialise with others.

Places on the bus should be booked between 1pm and 4pm the afternoon before by calling the Ron Short Centre on 01481 724333.