Annual bus trips to Imber raise over £36,000 for charity
The event brings thousands to the abandoned village each summer
An annual event that takes passengers to the deserted village of Imber has raised over £36,000 for charitable causes this year.
Imberbus, held every August, saw a combination of vintage and modern buses carry over 4,000 people to and around Salisbury Plain, covering the normally off-limits area.
Organisers have confirmed that £36,956.20 raised through ticket sales has now been distributed to various charities, community initiatives, museums, and heritage projects.
The Friends of St Giles’s received the highest allocation of £10,000, which will help maintain Imber’s last standing place of worship. Additional donations included £2,000 each to Chitterne Church Hall, Tilshead Village Hall, and Market Lavington Museum, with Wiltshire Air Ambulance receiving £1,000. Smaller sums went to organisations such as West Lavington Youth Club (£500), Warminster Action Group (£1,000), and the Royal British Legion (£4,000).
A highlight of the summer calendar
Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, spoke highly of Imberbus’s impact:
“Our annual event is enjoyed by thousands of people each year and continues to be a highlight of many summer calendars.
“We have fun ourselves, organising and staffing the bus service, and it’s a huge pleasure to distribute so much to appropriate charities at the end of another successful year for Imberbus.
“We’re looking forward to being back in 2026 to do the same again!”
Planning for next year
Organisers attribute the success of Imberbus to the efforts of volunteers, assistance from bus operators and enthusiasts, and the thousands of passengers who support the event each year.
Plans for next year’s Imberbus are already underway, and the event is scheduled to take place on Saturday 15th August 2026.