Gorleston man, 82, to travel around England in one month using his bus pass

Many pensioners enjoy a leisurely coach tour – but one Norfolk man is setting off on an epic bus odyssey.

Malcolm Metcalf, 82, has set himself the challenge of travelling around England using only his bus pass.

He has plotted a route starting in his home town of Gorleston and finishing in Great Yarmouth, taking 28 days, and traversing 39 counties, on 60 buses.

During the course of his travels he hopes to visit three cathedrals, meet three bishops, give talks at two schools, talk on two radio stations, attend one football match and appear on television.

The quest has taken meticulous planning.

'It has taken me 12 weeks to connect all the timetables because the bus pass only allows me to use shorter local services,' he said.

He will set off on his grand adventure on Saturday, April 2, leaving at 6.15am on the X1 from Magdalen Way, Gorleston.

His journey will take him north to Newcastle, through the East Midlands and Yorkshire, and then down to Southampton, via the West Midlands and South West. He is due to finish in Yarmouth on Saturday, April 30.

The trek is designed to raise money for the East Coast Hospice and Mr Metcalf will be paying his own expenses.

The funds will go towards the project to build Margaret Chadd House, a 10-bed specialist palliative care facility, with day care and complementary therapies in Gorleston.

Jeff Wood, community fundraiser from East Coast Hospice said: 'We stand in awe of Malcolm and have no doubt he will achieve all that he sets out to do.

'He is a fabulous ambassador for ECH and his unfailing support will ensure we raise the roof of this much needed facility even sooner.'

For more information, visit www.eastcoasthospice.org.uk or search 'BT mydonate for Malcolm Metcalf'. If you would like to contact Malcolm you can do so via email: 43ironhorse@gmail.com