Ryedale Community Transport (RCT) has welcomed its first patron

Christopher Legard, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, said he was honoured to be asked to take up the role and looked forward to working with the Norton-based charity.

Mr Legard lives at his family home, Scampston Hall which includes the award-winning visitor attraction Scampston Walled Garden.

He served as High Sheriff of North Yorkshire for 2018/19 and was appointed Vice Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire in 2019.

Mr Legard visited the RCT headquarters in Hugden Way last month to officially take up his new role.

After meeting the trustees and staff, the Chair of Trustees, Philip Richardson MBE, officially welcomed Mr Legard to his new role of patron.

Mr Legard said: “I am honoured and delighted to be asked to be patron of Ryedale Community Transport, who do so much for the local community, and I look forward to being part of the team in the future.”

The Charity has recently secured funding, for the next five years, from The National Lottery Community Fund to develop an on-demand Dial & Ride Service in the Ryedale area called ‘The Ryedale Rover’.

The Ryedale Rover will be an evolving service which can expand and develop as demand grows for its use.

It is hoped that when fully implemented it will provide new transport routes throughout Ryedale at an affordable price.

Mr Legard joined the trustees and staff to welcome back on to fleet some of the newly branded ‘Ryedale Rover’ buses and handed over the keys of the newest minibus on fleet to Philip.

Establised in 2005, RCT provides transport to rurally isolated communities and groups, individuals with special transport needs and young people accessing training, education and jobs.

More information on RCT, their services and also how to become a volunteer can be found on the website www.ryedalect.org or call them on 01653 698888.