A brightly illuminated open-top bus has brought festive cheer to hospital patients and staff across Oxford, as part of a special Christmas initiative by Oxford Bus Company.
The Christmas Light Bus, a City Sightseeing Oxford double-decker decorated with hundreds of twinkling lights, visited the John Radcliffe Hospital, the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, the Churchill Hospital and Sobell House on December 20.
The visits were designed to lift spirits for those spending the festive season in hospital, whether as patients, visitors or staff.
During the visit to Oxford Children’s Hospital, children received City Sightseeing activity books, while a live brass band performed Christmas favourites, filling hospital grounds with seasonal music and cheer. Patients and staff were also greeted by a waving Santa, creating moments of joy during what can be a difficult time of year.
The hospital visits formed a special extension of Oxford Bus Company’s popular Christmas Light Bus tour, which travelled through residential communities across the city over four evenings. The illuminated bus also played a prominent role in Oxford’s Christmas Light Festival in mid-November, adding to the city’s festive celebrations.
Luke Marion, Managing Director at Oxford Bus Company, which owns City Sightseeing Oxford, said: “For many of us, Christmas is a special time spent with family and friends.
“But not everybody will spend the festive period at home, and for varying reasons, people will be in hospital over Christmas.
“Therefore, we decided to elevate our Christmas Light Bus tour and visit Oxford’s key hospitals to further support others.
“The tireless work by hospital staff during Christmas is utterly commendable, and the Christmas Light Bus was as much for them to enjoy as it is for patients.”
Sarah Vaccari, from Oxford Hospitals Charity, also welcomed the initiative, highlighting the impact it had on those working and receiving care in the hospitals. She said: “It’s so lovely that our friends at Oxford Bus Company brought their bright and cheerful Christmas bus to tour our hospitals.
“The reactions to the brass band and waving Santa from patients and staff have been very special indeed. Thank you to all involved for bringing this extra Christmas sparkle to our hospitals.”
The regular Christmas Light Bus tours ran between 4.00pm and 8.00pm on December 12, 13, 19 and 20, accompanied by a festive soundtrack of Christmas classics provided by county station Get Radio.
Further information about the Christmas Light Bus can be found on the Oxford Bus Company website.
