News > Beartown buses celebrates Animals Asia second anniversary

Published 14 August 2009

Congleton's Beartown buses, operated by Bakerbus, are now carrying the names of individual bears supported by the Animals Asia Foundation.

Each of the three vehicles in the Beartown service features the name and picture of one of the Moon Bears rescued by the Foundation. From a list of over two hundred bears, the Beartown service drivers selected three individual bears called Abracadabra, Stardust and Chance.
In addition to the name and picture of the bears, each of the buses also features a large poster showing Bakers' support for the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF). Information leaflets are also available inside each bus.

A number of dignitaries from the town, including representatives from Animals Asia, were invited to a short naming ceremony to mark the launch of the partnership. The group included Phil Baker - Managing Director Bakerbus, Dave Neale - Animal Welfare Director AAF, Gill Maltby - UK Project and Funding Manager AAF, Dawn Gibbins MBE - Group founder and CEO Barefoot Living Ltd, David Watson - East Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise and Ernie Clarke - Congleton Town Mayor.

Commenting on the event, Phil Baker said, "Congleton's connection with the bear dates back over 350 years. The partnership with the AAF marks the second anniversary of our operation of the Beartown Buses. We are delighted to be able to link this service, and offer our support, to the Animals Asia Foundation."

Animals Asia Foundation founded by Jill Robinson MBE in 1998, is dedicated to ending cruelty and restoring respect for all animals across Asia. It is a non-governmental organisation headquartered in Hong Kong, with offices in the UK, USA, Australia, Italy and Germany and Moon Bear Rescue Centres in China and Vietnam.
The Foundations main project, the Moon Bear Rescue, involves the ongoing rescue of 500 suffering and endangered bears which are subject to cruel treatment by 'bile' farms in China. Similarly, the Foundation aims to rescue up to 200 farmed bears in Vietnam.

Dave Neale, Animal Welfare Director at the AAF comments, "We are really pleased that Congleton is embracing our campaign. We thank Bakers for supporting the Foundation in this way and helping us to end this barbaric practice."
The Beartown Buses provide a regular service on town routes covering Banky Fields, Bromley, Buglawton, Mossley and West Heath.

Photo, from left: Phil Baker, Jeanne Whitehurst, Dawn Gibbins MBE, Susan Johnson, Dave Neale, David Watson, Ernie Clarke.

Underneath the bear costumes were Stuart Williams and Gill Maltby.

Issued by Grant Bostock
MJO PR Ltd for Bakers Coaches
Tel: 0845 883 3435