Royston and District Community Transport (RDCT), which helps patients attend hospital appointments, is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

In 1992, the secretarial team at Royston Health Centre recruited a team of volunteer drivers, who used their own cars to transport patients to hospital appointments who could not get there by other means.

By 1994, the group had grown in size and moved to Royston Hospital - becoming Royston Community Transport.

The service later expanded to include Duxford, Shepreth and Chrishall, covering parts of North and East Herts, South Cambridgeshire and Essex.

RDTC became a registered charity in 2008, and by 2020 had a client list of approximately 1,000 people - averaging nearly 50 bookings a day.

The pandemic saw a reduction in journeys due to cancelled appointments and the risk to passenger and driver safety.

Under the leadership of the late chairman Dr John Hedges, the service survived and adapted with the help of its staff and volunteers.

This includes just three part-time staff, trustees - who take on various unpaid roles, a part-time bus driver and the volunteer drivers - who cover around 120,000 miles per year.

The group continues to provide transport and prioritises all types of medical appointments, but can also take people to day centres and other appointments if they have no other means of getting there.

They also have two wheelchair accessible vehicles, which they use daily.

RDTC receives funding from Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire councils, as well as from Royston, Melbourn, Meldreth, other town and parish councils and Thriplow Daffodil Weekend - for which the service also provides transport.

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To raise funds, the group holds a monthly lottery and a Christmas raffle. They have also been supported by M&S, the Co-op and the Masons, and are the 2024 charity for Royston Runners.

A spokesperson for RDTC said: "If you would like to know more about becoming a volunteer driver, we are flexible on days and times, then please contact us.

"If you need help getting to medical appointments etc, please contact the office to pre-book transport, between 9am – 3pm, Monday to Friday. Email info@roytrans.co.uk or call 01763 245228."