News Archive
Posted 22/03/13
Some of the girls and their hosts enjoying an evening get-together.
It' sno(w) joke - Get Me To The Bus On Time!
The Scenario: Five teenage girls from St Josef School in Schwäbisch-Gmünd, at the end of their short stay in Barnsley needed transporting from Silkstone Common to Barnsley Interchange to catch the 0900 coach to London.
The plan was to rouse the girls for a leisurely breakfast at 0730 followed by 0815 departure in two cars to Barnsley.
That was until it was discovered at 0645 that snow had fallen overnight and radio advised caution for drivers with side roads yet uncleared.
Fortunately, there was plan B, to catch the 0744 train to Barnsley, the girls, typically were still in bed and cases had yet to be packed. Reality and a bit of panic set in, time was short, clothes were squashed in and cases would not close, breakfast became an impossibility and to top it all, snow was still falling!
Step in seasoned town-twinner, John Bennett, like superman in his high visibility jacket to gather in his flock and shepherd them to the Interchange. A quick dash through the deep snow dragging their cases behind them and all made it to the station just in time for the train. Arriving at Barnsley Station at 0800 there was plenty of time to cross to the coach for the 0900 to London, joined by the other members of the party who had been staying in different parts of the borough.
But………….at 0845 two remaining party members were unaccounted for, frantic phone calls revealed they were caught in snow traffic.
Step in John once again appealing to the London coach driver to delay his departure. It was a close shave but the remaining two staying in Worsbrough finally arrived and all of the party successfully left for London.
Another happy ending to a town twinning experience and a further chapter in the more than 50 year link between Barnsley and Schwäbisch-Gmünd.
