Dark Knight provides light relief as people are greeted by Batman on Chatham Arriva bus
15:39, 04 May 2020
updated: 07:17, 05 May 2020
It's not every day you board the bus to attend a medical appointment and find out it's being driven by Batman.
But for wheelchair user Jim Sayer that was the reality he faced when he stood at his stop in Ballens Road, Chatham.
The Lordswood resident was waiting for the 166 Arriva bus to take him into town, where he would change to reach a podiatrist appointment in Gillingham.
When it arrived last Thursday morning, he was shocked to see none other than Batman at the wheel.
Jim asked him whether it would be ok to take a quick snap and to his delight, the Dark Knight wilfully obliged.
Unlike the caped crusader depicted on the big screen, Jim was surprised by just how cheerful he was.
He said: "This morning, as I was going to a medical appointment my bus arrived with Batman at the wheel.
"There was one lady who got on the same time as me and we had a conversation between us and a good laugh about it.
"He was really having a good day and cheering everyone up – well done to him!"
It's not just Batman who has been spotted out during lockdown as kind-hearted characters dress up to cheer up children stuck inside their homes.
Spiderman was seen greeting people in Chatham during last week's clap for carers.
The web-slinging hero lived up to his moniker – "Friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man" – by skipping in the road while batting pots together.
In Belvedere mum Donna Dorbon has gained herself a fan club after dressing up as children's favourites including Peppa Pig and Minions during her daily exercise.
Spider-Man turns up in Chatham
Getting her five-year-old daughter Daniella and husband Mark in on the act, the family have gained themselves some adoring fans who await their passage through the neighbourhood.
But who is the batman on the Chatham Arriva bus?
Arriva has since confirmed it is Dan Boyns, who works at the bus company's depot in Gillingham.
A spokesman said: “Dan, along with colleagues from across Arriva, decided to dress up as superheroes in recognition of all the hard work they and their colleagues have put in to keep keyworkers moving during the lockdown and to help cheer up their customers."
Tomorrow will mark Bus Worker Support Day, an initiative led by the Confederation of Passenger Transport to recognise transport employees as key frontline workers.
Arriva has told its passengers to keep their eyes peeled for some more well-known characters behind the wheel tomorrow.
