The Princess of Wales surprised elderly passengers in Sussex this morning as she joined a volunteer-run community transport association.
asserted
she → surprise → association
Catherine arrived in picturesque Pulborough to join the team at the West Sussex Minibus, which acts as a vital lifeline for people who cannot easily access public transport due to isolation, mobility issues or financial hardship.
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who → arrive → isolation
She first surprised Stella Drewett, 94, at her pristine bungalow, before helping her to the bus as they embarked on a short journey to pick up other passengers.
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they → surprise → passengers
The group ended up at Pulborough Village Hall, where a weekly lunch club is held providing a welcoming space for people to come together for activities and conversation.
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people → end → activities
And to the shock of guests, the future queen sat down to chat with each table, munching on crisps and talking happily about how she and the Prince of Wales are a 'good double act' doing the washing up.
West Sussex Minibus, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is staffed entirely by volunteers and supports people living in rural areas of the county.
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which → sit → county
It was established as a response to the decline of local public transport and is designed to help OAPs continue to enjoy independence, social connection and quality of life.
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OAPs → establish → life
It has grown from a single minibus into a fleet of 11, operating from eight village hubs and supported by 284 volunteers.
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It → grow → volunteers
The Princess of Wales during a visit to the West Sussex Minibus in Pulborough today
Catherine laughs with Lynda Jones, 74, during her visit to Pulborough Village Hall today
The Princess of Wales joins the West Sussex Minibus team in Pulborough this morning
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Princess → laugh → Pulborough
Catherine's visit is to highlight the role community transport plays in bringing people together
The fleet travels around 60,000 miles each year and provides 13,000 passenger journeys.
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fleet → highlight → journeys
Dressed in elegant grey trousers and a blouse, with a matching overcoat, and her hair pulled back into a ponytail, the princess stepped easily off the bus in vertiginous heels onto former school cook Mrs Drewett's driveway.
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princess → dress → driveway
She waited politely outside before being invited in by Mrs Drewett, who insisted on getting herself outside telling her: 'I like to do these things myself.
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I → wait → things
'
'I bet you do!' the princess said.
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princess → bet → ?
'I'll follow you.'
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I → follow → you
The royal then helped her up the steps onto the bus and told her she was coming to the lunch club 'because I want to see what it's all about'.
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it → help → what
Catherine took a place next to her and joked about always forgetting her handbag.
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Catherine → take → handbag
'Everyone always runs after me [shouting] 'you forgot your handbag'.
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you → run → handbag
'
Encouraging her to put her seatbelt on, the princess added: 'I have to remind my children to put their seatbelts on too.'
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I → encourage → seatbelts
At the village hall she chatted to the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex and volunteers outside, telling Alex Dolby and Pippa Reid: 'I can see how much this means to them.'
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this → chat → them
Inside she first sat down a table with lively Lynda Jones, 75, who had her in fits of giggles.
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who → sit → giggles
She told her: 'I love washing up.
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She → tell → her
I really do.
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I → do → ?
'Oh good, a volunteer,' joked another guest.
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guest → joke → ?
Asked whether her husband helped, Catherine said: 'He does the drying.
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He → ask → drying
And we get the children involved.
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children → get → ?
'
Examining the food on the table, the princess noted there was a bowl of crisps.
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princess → examine → crisps
'I bet you never eat crisps,' Lynda teased her.
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Lynda → bet → her
'I do.
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I → do → ?
I love salted,' Catherine said, and took one to prove her point, gently nibbling on it as they chatted.
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they → love → it
'Is this a good way to make friendships?
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this → make → friendships
You seem to have a really wonderful community here,' she said.
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she → seem → community
'So many people feel isolated and cut off in their communities, it's wonderful there are these places to come.
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it → feel → communities
You must all love coming together on your Wednesdays.
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You → love → Wednesdays
The Princess of Wales helps pick up a 94-year-old minibus user in Pulborough this morning
Catherine plays with one-year-old Albie as she visits Pulborough today
The Princess of Wales chats to those attending the lunch in Pulborough today
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Princess → help → Pulborough
Lynda said afterwards: 'Very natural, very beautiful.
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Lynda → say → ?
She looked at the crisps, so I let her have one.
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her → look → one
She said these are the ones she buys when she goes shopping…the salted ones.
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she → say → ?
I wouldn't want to meet the other thing, shhhhhh!' she added cheekily, perhaps in reference to other royals with Sussex links.
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she → want → links
If you've got nothing at home you can book them, they will bring a minibus to your door and take your home.
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they → get → home
It gets you out, otherwise you would go mad.
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you → get → you
I didn't think she would sit down by me.
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she → think → me
…and 33 more, not listed.
The Aporia
