• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Monday, June 9, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Farmers flock to North Sheep

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Appleby Horse Fair: Several cases of animal cruelty

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

  • Sport
    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest

Bus firm owner comes to rescue of stranded Penrith pupils

by CWH
28 June 2022
in Latest, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Pupils and staff from a Penrith school left stranded after travel arrangements went awry have praised the man who went the extra mile to help them.

The owner of a Cumbrian bus firm stepped up when a group from Queen Elizabeth Grammar School were unable to get home from London, after a trackside fire stopped all trains out of Euston.

The year nine pupils had enjoyed a cultural trip to London and were due to head back to Penrith on Friday by train.

Deputy headteacher Rob Dawson said they should have departed just before 5pm, but by about 4.40pm all trains had been delayed out of Euston.

“This soon became a ‘suspension’ of all trains until further notice,” said Mr Dawson.

After making contact with Avanti staff, the school’s 88 students and eight staff in London were allowed to wait on the ramp leading to the platforms, ensuring they would be ready to board when train services resumed.

“After more than an hour on the ramp it became clear that almost no trains were going to be leaving. We were advised by Avanti to travel to Kings Cross and take a train to Newcastle.

“Staff briefly discussed this but dismissed the idea of arriving in Newcastle in the early hours having spent several hours on a very crowded train. Another member of the station staff suggested we wouldn’t be allowed on the Newcastle train as our party was too big. By now Euston had announced all passengers should find an alternative route and that tickets would be valid on any service on Saturday.

“After briefly being moved to a lounge area, we were advised by Avanti to board a train to Rugby which was running, and change there to get back to Penrith.

“We did manage to get on that train thanks to Avanti, but were soon told not to get off at Rugby as there would be no services running north of Preston on Friday. The decision was taken to stay on the train to Manchester Piccadilly.

“Staff from school ­— including myself ­— then began calling bus companies from both Cumbria and Manchester in an attempt to get home on Friday. A couple of companies could find us a bus, but no driver. Our assistant site manager was really helpful and set off for Manchester along with his son-in-law with the two school minibuses.

“After several dead-ends, we got hold of Chris Firth from Metcalfe Coaches who was still in the office. Whilst he had a 70-seater in the yard, he had no drivers left with enough hours to come all the way to Manchester. Chris spent a couple of hours phoning his contacts around Greater Manchester.

“Without this we were reliant on office numbers, which were all closed.

“Eventually he hit success with Atlantic Travel in Bolton who arranged a bus to be with us in Manchester. Chris arranged all of this on his own time. The train was then further delayed by ‘track issues’ and ‘trespassers on the line’.

“After a very crowded and slow train ride to Manchester, we arrived at 10.30pm. Ten minutes later the coach arrived and our site staff ­— Ian Campbell and son-in-law Gaz ­— arrived with the minibuses.

We then did the journey home to Penrith by road. We arrived back in town at 1-15am.
“Parents were all very supportive and felt we had dealt with it well. Fortunately we had some very experienced staff on the trip.”

Mr Firth said: “I could not leave them stranded. I thought, if they were my kids I would not want them waiting on a platform somewhere for six hours.”

Related Posts

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?
Expert advice

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever
Latest

Penrith Players present Noel Coward’s Hay Fever

7 June 2025
Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross
News

Paula Roberts’ pilgrim route to raise cash for Red Cross

6 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep
Farm and Countryside

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex
News

Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

6 June 2025
Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history
Latest

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

How can businesses combat increased pressure on cashflow and profitability?

8 June 2025
Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

Patterdale’s Eden Eagles make history

6 June 2025
Farmers flock to North Sheep

Farmers flock to North Sheep

6 June 2025
Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

Cumbrian animal charity celebrates with dog show for opening of new kennel complex

6 June 2025
Honorary assistant bishop Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson

Honorary assistant bishop Geoffrey Hewlett Thompson

6 June 2025
Looking back through the archives

Looking back through the archives

6 June 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2025

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald