Skip to content

'Whatever the thieves got, we've come out winners'

Caroline Haslett Primary School A burnt-out bus on a road. Tape is around the bus. which is scorched and rust-coloured, with just some white paint remaining. There is debris on the road and, just visible on the bus, there is there is faint writing of the name of the school: Caroline Haslett Primary. Caroline Haslett Primary School
Caroline Haslett Primary's head said the minibus had been "essential" to get children to activities outside school

A head teacher said his faith in the community had been restored after £9,000 was raised in days to replace a stolen minibus that was set on fire.

Paul Quinton, head at Caroline Haslett Primary, in Shenley Lodge, Milton Keynes, said the minibus was taken last weekend and discovered, stripped and destroyed, by a parent on Monday.

He said replacing it would cost three times what insurers would pay out.

But Mr Quinton said, whatever the thieves got from removing the engine, the good feeling he and the school had from the money raised and community spirit would "last a lot longer".

Caroline Haslett Primary School A burnt out bus, with no engine, with tape round it, on a road. A road sign is behind it and buses to the right. The bus was originally white in colour. Caroline Haslett Primary School
The burnt-out bus was found on Monday afternoon by a parent

Mr Quinton, whose school has 430 pupils, said the bus was taken between 16:00 and 17:00 GMT on 16 November.

He said he was called at about 22:30 on the Saturday to be told the school's backdoor was open and the minibus missing.

He found school fencing had been cut and there was "glass all over the playground where they kept the bus".

The theft was captured on CCTV.

"I was really angry on Saturday night, really upset," he said.

He added he had been left feeling "violated".

But, with the £10,000 fundraising target already nearly reached, he said: "The reaction has really restored my faith in our community."

Caroline Haslett Primary School Six pupils from a school standing outside a white school minibus, they all have stars on their faces to hide their identity. They are all wearing blue school tops, with a logo on the right and black shorts. They are posing for an image. Caroline Haslett Primary School
The school said the loss of the bus would "cause significant disruption"

Mr Quinton thanked everyone who had chipped in.

He said: "Whatever the thieves got from taking the bits they needed, that will be gone in a week or so, the good feeling and the way I feel and the way my school community feels will last a lot longer than that.

"No matter the outcome, we've come out the winner."

Thames Valley Police said it received a report of the theft and was investigating.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

More stories like this
Related internet links