St John's councillors sponsor 500 daytrippers to visit Barry Island

Several day trips from Worcester to Barry Island, the setting for hit sitcom Gavin and Stacey, have been organised this month following a £3,000 donation from St John’s Labour councillors Matt Lamb, Robyn Norfolk and Richard Udall.

The trips, which have been organised by Worcester Community Trust, are now fully booked with more than 100 people on a waiting list.

Cllr Richard Udall said the trips have proved a great success already and have given some people the chance to visit a beach for the first time.

“It has been a great experience and something we will certainly be looking to do again in the future,” he said.

“One person actually said to me that it is the first time that their child has seen the sea and been on a beach and it’s really pleasing to hear that and really pleasing to hear that people are actually enjoying themselves. As I keep on saying, we want to bring the fun back.

“All the places are now taken up,” Cllr Udall added. “That’s over 500 people that are going.

“There have been two trips so far and everyone has had a wonderful time.

“The sun has been shining every time, fish and chips and ice cream are being consumed in great numbers.”

Five day trips from Worcester to South Wales have been organised, with two having already taken place, and will continue every Wednesday throughout the summer holidays.

The three St John’s Labour councillors pooled together £3,000 handed to them from the council’s Covid funds and donated the money to Worcester Community Trust.

“We were going to do it last year to offer people the chance to get off the estate and out of Dines Green and St John’s to have some good times,” Cllr Udall added. “Clearly last year was not appropriate so we carried it over a year. “We chose Barry Island because of the interest in Gavin and Stacey and as somewhere different.

“To be honest, we were a bit fed up of people having to go to Weston-Super-Mare all the time so we found a new place to go."