TWO community transport stalwarts are leaving the Yate-based service this month. And, although the departures are, of course, tinged with sadness both are leaving for the most joyous of reasons. Gazette feature writer Kirsty Ramsden spoke to Yate, Sodbury and District Community Transport manager, Jenni Moorhouse, and assistant manager Jacky Wright to find out more.

WHEN Jenni Moorhouse joined Yate, Sodbury and District Community Transport almost seven years ago it was a very different service.

Indeed Mrs Moorhouse, who leaves the organisation this month, was the only employee yet now it employs nine part-timers and herself on a full-time basis.

"We had two clapped-out buses - now we have eight that are no older than five years old," she said.

The year prior to Mrs Moorhouse taking the helm, the service transported 17,000 passengers - last year the figure reached 32,000.

Seven years ago the service provided just transport for groups.

Now it provides transport for individuals under the ring and ride scheme, a car scheme and a youth partnership scheme as well as group transport.

"We had 12 volunteers when I got here," said Mrs Moorhouse, "now we have 135." Mrs Moorhouse was employed to introduce a computer system and replace one of the buses.

Her role has developed and now includes a considerable amount of fund-raising to safeguard and develop services.

She describes the changes in community transport since she joined as "phenomenal".

"You just couldn't have imagined this," she said.

It is a role she has relished and one that has given her immense job satisfaction.

"I still enjoy coming to work," she said. "I have never had that feeling that I don't want to come in to work.

"I used to come back from my holidays and would be at the garage checking the buses."

She explained she could see the impact community transport made to lives.

She said: "Whatever you do you can see the result and it is almost instantaneous."

Praising fellow staff and volunteers, she said: "I have never worked with such a fantastic group of people like this.

"It is like a second family."

Mrs Moorhouse is leaving the service this month to fulfil a long-term family dream of living in the beautiful Welsh countryside.

As a final fitting reminder of her work at community transport Mrs Moorhouse has received a rather special invitation.

She has been asked to a reception with the Blairs in recognition of front-line services in the voluntary sector.

"It is a nice way to end," she said. "It is good for community transport as well as for me because at the end of the day it is for what community transport has achieved."

Meanwhile Jacky Wright, assistant manager at community service, is leaving after five-and-a-half years with the organisation.

She is remarrying and moving to Peterborough to be with her new husband.

Ironically she is to marry at Poole Court, where community transport also has its office.

She described working for the service as "lovely".

"I was employed when we were offered the rural bus challenge grant," she explained, "so I have been really involved in ring and ride and seen it develop into the essential service it is today."

Mrs Moorhouse is being replaced by Terry Boon.

Mr Boon said he was very excited to be taking over and was looking forward to helping people in "one of those key areas that is absolutely essential".

He said: "I intend to continue to provide the high quality service and to meet the needs of community transport passengers."

He comes to community transport with more than 20 years service in bus transport.

"I know bus transport - albeit on a commercial basis," he explained.

The role of assistant manager is being divided between members of the community transport team.