Bus unveiled to commemorate work of charity founder

Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has unveiled a dedicated bus to celebrate the work of a founder of a charity that aims to bring joy to children living with life-threatening illnesses.

The operator drove the vehicle, named the Wish Bus, to the home of Barbara White - who established the charity When You Wish Upon a Star in 1990 - to celebrate her legacy on Tuesday.

The charity, which was founded in Nottingham, aims to grant the wishes of seriously ill children.

Joe Williamson, chief executive officer at the charity, said the bus provided the organisation with a "fantastic amount" of awareness for the children and families it served.

White - who broke her back last year - told the BBC she felt "humbled" by the experience, and said she "never in a million years" expected anything like this.

"It's just lovely to see all the team here, a Wish child, and the fact that all my carers have come down today which is so lovely because obviously they do a lot for me so it's nice to involve them too," she said.

NCT said the charity had granted more than 19,000 wishes, and stated White had been "instrumental" in raising millions of pounds.

It added she was awarded an OBE in 2006 for her services to the charity and she also received an honorary degree from Nottingham Trent University in 2025.

Williamson said: "With it being Barbara's 70th birthday this year and everything she's done for the charity, we really wanted to make sure we could honour all the work she's done and all the wishes she's granted for the children."

He told the BBC she was "amazing" to work with and it was an "honour" to be the chief executive of the charity that she founded.

Anthony Carver-Smith, head of marketing and projects at NCT, said: "Barbara White's legacy through the amazing life-changing work that When You Wish Upon a Star has achieved for over 30 years is incredible.

"She has made such a positive impact on so many families, often at challenging times, and it's only right that she is recognised with a bus named in her honour."

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