£700 impulse buy forces thesps tohold night of light entertainment
Members of VOLES (Varsity Oxbridge Light Entertainment Society) performed a night of entertainment at Wadham Old Refectory, in order to raise money to refurbish a bus bought off eBay by inebriated members of the society. Philip Scott (Cambridge University Bus Entertainment Society’s “Conductor of Vice”) told The Oxford Student that the 1981 Leynend Atlantium was “an impulse purchase bought after a few drinks”, when members saw it advertised on eBay.
The £700 double-decker, which is intended to house 25 VOLES members, was described as a “bargain”. The night raised over £200 towards the cost of the refurbishment, and another event is planned in Cambridge this week.
Cath Howdle, President of the Oxford half of the VOLES, said, “Each summer the combined societies go on a summer holiday to some nice place in the country and take a show - Wind in the Willows, Jeeves and Wooster, short plays etc - to various venues like disabled kids’ schools, residential homes and the suchlike. Our aim is basically to take drama to those who can’t normally get to the theatre.
“So a bus would (as well as being cool and fun) enable us to save on transport costs and get everyone to the venues. Hence we’ve been reconditioning it and it should be ready for its fi rst outing this summer.” .
4th May 2006