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How it all started...
It all started in 1972, the inspiration, a white transit van used in Lourdes to ferry disabled people around. In the same year the british rail rolling stock, hospital trains ceased operation preventing sev erely disabled pilgrims getting to Lourdes. Later that year the blue prints were drawn up for a new 'jumbo ambulance' or JUMBULANCE®. The total cost of the project would cost over £50,000 and The Across Trust was registered as a charity and the fund-raising began. The next stage was to obtain clearance from the ferry authorities for people to remain on the Jumbulance® whilst in transit across the English Channel. This, after meetings with the authorities was cleared. The Jumbulance® would be, when built, the second most expensive road vehicle in the world, (the first been the President of the United States' car).
At the Earl's Court Vehicle Show in 1972, The Across Trust approached various manufacturers, each showed interest and goodwill, however were unable to meet the specification. Across headed to the continent to find a manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz. They were to build the chassis. Willowbrook Ltd was to be the fitters of the Jumbulance®. The specification included: interchangeable beds and seats, air conditioning, electric lifting and conveying hoist, chemical flushing toilet, refrigerator, hot and cold water, ovens for hot food, TV/Radio, oxygen supply and power points for medical equipment. The deadline for the new Jumbulance® was April 1973. On the 19th April 1973 this new Jumbulance® made its first dummy run and its maiden voyage was on 24th April.
The Across Trust...
The ACROSS Trust continued to grow and expanded its range of Jumbulances® and also invested in accommodation in Lourdes. First they bought a house to accommodate a group and later expanded and bought L'astazou. L'astazou was the Trust's own site where groups could go and stay. It originally consisted of the Chateau but later Chalet Notre Dame and Chalet Bernadette were built on the site. Midi Jumbulances® were based in Lourdes to ferry groups to and from the centre of Lourdes.
There were a number of Standard Jumbulances over the years and some Alligator Jumbulances that were capable of carrying up to 36 passengers with 12 beds on board. It took around 20 hours to reach Lourdes b y Jumbulance® from London, with a 9 hour turnaround, to bring the previous week's group back home, to complete the 'Lourdes Shuttle'.
Lourdes was not the only destination for the Jumbulances® and other destinations included Holland, Austria, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Ireland, Germany and in the later years to the Continental Christmas Markets and Disneyland Paris.
In October 2001 The Across Trust ceased trading due to financial difficulties. This was not the end of the Jumbulances as people who had travelled could not bare to lose this unique form of transportation.
One of the 'Alligator' Jumbulances® which was in the Guiness book of World Records as the largest ambulance in the world.
For more pictures of the JUMBULANCES® over the years click here.
The Jumbulance Trust...
In 2001 , The New Jumbulance Travel Trust, was established. The New Trust bought three standard Jumbulances® and a midi Jumbulance®. These were re-liveried in green and the new Jumbulances® were on the road after obtaining charity status. This new charity hires the Jumbulances® out on a daily basis. People hiring the Jumbulances ® can choose where they want to take them as they pay a fixed price per day to hire the Jumbulance® and the drivers. In March 2009, the new Trust, now known as 'The Jumbulance Trust', took delivery of its first brand new Jumbulance® (interior picture to the right and exterior below). The Trust vehicle fleet now comprises of two larger standard Jumbulances®, one new Jumbulance® and one midi Jumbulance®.
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Jumbulance History