Royal visit for founder of transport group

Brian Knight chatted to the Duke of Kent about the Arun Co-ordinated Community Transport service.

The Duke visited the service's premises in Littlehampton to present the Queen's Jubilee Award for Voluntary Service.

The award recognises voluntary organisations for their contribution to their community. It was launched to mark the Queen's golden jubilee.

Mr Knight, of Sunningdale Gardens, founded the transport service 11 years.

He said: "It is fantastic to receive the award. It's nice because the volunteers have been rewarded for all the work they do."

The service has 150 unpaid helpers to keep its 12 minibuses and three easy access cars on the road.

The volunteers contributed more than 56,000 hours last year to the service's success.

Just over 76,000 passengers were transported by the service in the year until last April.

Many of them go shopping or attend doctor, dentist or hospital appointments. The door-to-door service enables them to enjoy social occasions as well.