On Friday, February 28, Hay and District Dial-a-Ride formally welcomed their new minibus with a celebratory event at Hay Bowls Club.

Vice chair Gus Powell started proceedings by welcoming all present, before Cllr Gareth Ratcliffe MBE spoke about the importance of Dial-a-Ride’s work and service.

A large crowd had turned up to see the unveiling including MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, David Chadwick and MS for Brecon and Radnorshire, James Evans.

There had been a ‘name the bus’ competition in the lead up to the event and the winning entry was unveiled in pride of place on the bonnet by the chair Mary Fellowes. Jill Sinclair was congratulated for inventing the alliterative ‘Hay Happy Hopper’ name.

Parish priest Father David Wyatt then performed a blessing ritual on the bus.

A spokesperson for Hay and District Dial-a-Ride said: “We would like to extend our warmest thanks again to those who helped fund this vehicle: the Black Mountain Lions; Hereford Masonic Charity Foundation, the Loyal Hay Lodge and the Loyal Hay Chapter; Powys County Council and the National Lottery.”

Chief executive Lesley Moore said afterwards: "The event was a very special one and we were honoured to have so many people join us for this significant occasion in our history."

2024 marked the 30th anniversary of Hay & District Dial-a-Ride and the milestone was marked with the purchase of the new bus. However, supply chain issues conspired and the group were made to wait for the arrival of their new vehicle.

The new bus is an updated version of their previous set of wheels which had undertaken in excess of 1,500 journeys a year, enabling customers to maintain their independence and remain part of a thriving community, reducing loneliness and combating social and rural isolation.