LOCKDOWN LEADER: Knight Bus

In the absence of one of Professor Snape’s famous vanishing spells on Covid-19, there’s this: the news that Harry Potter tour buses are being repurposed as free transport for key NHS workers.  Yes indeed, the incredible ‘Knight Bus’, featured in Harry Potter in The Prisoner Of Azkaban is to be employed for an equally magical purpose – ferrying frontline medical staff around Hertfordshire.

In less ghastly times, these buses, owned by coach company Golden Tours, are used to take fans around the Warner Bros tour at Leavesden Studios, which is now closed during the global pandemic. But now, faster than you can say “Wingardium Leviosa” (a spell that makes objects levitate), they’re now flying real-life angels to hospital for free. As Paul da Gama, from the West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust explained, the trust has had to redeploy people into new roles, so more workers are required at this time. “Our workforce has been depleted due to sickness or self-isolation,” he said “so it’s really important that those staff who are well, but have transport issues, can come back.” The shuttle buses offered the perfect solution. “Our staff might not be travelling to exotic locations or seeing behind the scenes of a major movie, but they will be making magic happen in their own way,” he said. “The priorities of the nation have changed completely as people learn to enjoy days in and not days out,” said managing director of Golden Tours, Mikesh Palan. “But for key workers, staying home is not an option and we’re delighted to be able to help by providing a safe a reliable way to get to work and back.” “[We are] delighted to play a part in supporting our local NHS in this time of need,” a Warner Bros Studios Leavesden spokesperson added. The magical buses will carry staff between the NHS trust’s Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead hospitals between 6am and 10:30pm. Social distancing rules will still apply onboard.

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