Raymond Briggs’ Snowman will fly past the Royal Pavilion and through Brighton and Hove this winter as part of a drive to raise funds for a children’s hospice.
Brighton and Hove Bus Company
The snowman is seen flying over the Pavilion in the well-loved book and animation, but although he won’t take to the skies this year, he will travel past it with his companion James on the side of a specially commissioned Brighton and Hove Buses double decker.
He will hit the streets in time for the Chestnut Tree Hospice, which Mr Briggs is patron to, in time for its tenth annual Snowman Spectacular Fundraising Ball on Saturday, 2 December.
Brighton and Hove Buses Managing Director Martin Harris said, “We are absolutely thrilled to bring The Snowman Bus to our customers and in time for Christmas.
“We’re hugely grateful to Raymond Briggs for his permission to let us use his original illustration and in time to celebrate the 40th anniversary next year of the original picture book’s publication.
“We’ve always sought to celebrate and enrich the artistic and cultural heritage of the city and are certain The Snowman Bus exemplifies this.
“There are so many adults who have a warm, deep and nostalgic connection to the story; we very much hope The Snowman Bus will melt the hearts of all those who travel across Brighton in it.”
Sarah Arnold, Head of Fundraising at Chestnut Tree House, said: “The Snowman Bus is a fantastic way for us to celebrate the iconic character in Brighton, and a reminder of how the story resonates with us and the life-limited children and families we care for.
“The young boy in The Snowman story gets to experience an amazing adventure, but then loses his new friend. But when you think of The Snowman, it’s the happy times you remember, not the sad ending.
“This is very much what Chestnut Tree House is about – providing wonderful care, experiences, and precious memories of happy times together.”
The Snowman Bus is to make its debut public appearance alongside The Snowman character outside the Royal Pavilion at the Old Steine this Saturday for a short time in the afternoon at about 2.30pm to celebrate over a decade of collaboration between the illustrator and Chestnut Tree House.
The bus will be in service for customers from Sunday, 5 November.
