This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities...
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
    • Politics
    • Transport
    • Lifestyle
    • Community
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Education
    • Harrogate
    • Ripon
    • Knaresborough
    • Boroughbridge
    • Pateley Bridge
    • Masham
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs

Interested in advertising with us?

Advertise with us

  • News & Features
  • Your Area
  • What's On
  • Offers
  • Latest Jobs
  • Politics
  • Transport
  • Lifestyle
  • Community
  • Business
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Education
Advertise with us
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Latest News

We want to hear from you

Tell us your opinions and views on what we cover

Contact us
Connect with us
  • About us
  • Advertise your job
  • Correction and complaints
Download on App StoreDownload on Google Play Store
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Statement
  • Comments Participation T&Cs
Trust In Journalism

Copyright © 2020 The Stray Ferret Ltd, All Rights Reserved

Site by Show + Tell

Thank you for your interest in this story

To continue reading this article, subscribe to the Stray Ferret for as little as £1 a week

    Already a subscriber? Log in here.

    13

    Mar 2022

    Last Updated: 13/03/2022
    Community
    Community

    Bus leaves Knaresborough on 1,550-mile mission to help Ukrainians flee

    by Suzannah Rogerson

    | 13 Mar, 2022
    Comment

    0

    Ray Allott has set off on a 1,550-mile drive from Knaresborough to Ukraine in a 34-seater bus, which will be used to transport refugees to safety.

    mark-smith-and-ray-allott-ukraine-buss
    (Left to right) Mark Smith, HACS group, Ray Allott and James Fulcher.

    A van has set off from Knaresborough to transport Ukrainians out of the war-torn country to safety.

    The 34-seat bus has been provided by two Harrogate district businessman, Mark Smith of The HACS Group and Ray Allott of Chimneycrete.

    Mr Allott had the idea after a chat with a friend called Pavl in Poland.

    Pavl said he was using his car to drive 39 miles from his home to the Polish/Ukraine border each night to transport people and supplies.

    Mr Allott wanted to do all he can to help so, with support from Mr Smith at HACS, he acquired the bus.

    He set off from Knaresborough yesterday afternoon to drive 1,550 miles to Ukraine.

    The bus will then be left in Ukraine to be used to help refugees get to safety. It is currently packed with generators and radios, donated by local supporters.

    Once it reaches the border it will be handed over to local activists to help get women and children out of Ukraine to other European countries, including the UK.

    Mr Smith said:

    "It was all Ray's idea, as soon as he asked I just said 'yes'. We've got to do something and do it fast, there's plenty of people that need help. Our aim is to get as many people as possible out of Ukraine or further from the Polish border into mainland Europe.
    "We've put a tracker on the bus too, to see how often Pavl is going into Ukraine then we can send over sufficient funds to cover petrol costs."


    Mr Allott has set up a justgiving page for people to donate to. Money raised will be used for petrol and supply costs. So far it has raised more than £3,000.



    Read more:



    • Harrogate firefighter Bruce Reid forced to abort Ukraine mission

    • Ripon man helping Ukraine says ambulances are being shot by Russians





    Ray Allott