Birmingham’s Number 11 bus is renamed after Brummie hero

Known as the longest bus route in Europe, the number 11 service covers a 27 mile route that has run around the outer circle of Birmingham since 1926.

Thousands use the bus on its clockwise - and anti-clockwise daily journeys all around the city taking in places including Kings Heath, Cotteridge, Edgbaston and Erdington.

Now the number 11 has been honoured with a new name to celebrate the return of the Birmingham Walkathon. National Express West Midlands which operates the buses on the route have renamed it after Harry Moseley - the young boy who captured the hearts of the nation when he raised over £750,000 for cancer research in the last two years of his life with his charity Help Harry Help Others (HHHO), before sadly passing away aged just 11 years old.

Almost 1,000 Brummies joined the relaunch of the Birmingham Walkathon held yesterday (Sunday, April 2). They took up the routes of 26 miles and 11 miles from both Kings Heath Park and Rookery Park in Erdington. There were also inclusive routes of one, two, three four or five laps of Kings Heath Park.

The Walkathon, which started in the early 1980s and this was the first time it had been held since 2013. Over the years the walk has attracted up to 10,000 people annually and in one year raised over £400,000.

The Walkathon, which was first developed by David Bagley, who was the former director of BRMB, also aimed to reduce isolation and tackle loneliness, by featuring a ‘Buddy check in area’ for people who attended alone.

The specially developed area means those individuals can meet others in the same situation and hopefully walk together and form lifelong friendships.

David Bradford, Managing Director for National Express West Midlands said, “We are delighted to name one of our iconic number 11 buses after Harry Moseley, celebrating his legacy and the important work undertaken to support those with cancer.

“We have fond memories of Harry’s fundraising efforts, 11 years ago, creating and selling his colourful wristbands. To see how far the charity has continued to grow within our community is an incredible achievement and  we are extremely pleased to be able to mark it in some way.

“It is with great hope that the ‘Harry’ bus will also bring back many happy memories for our passengers and the local community served by the route. ” 

Harry’s Mom, Georgie Moseley, who officially registered Help Harry Help Others as a charity 10 years ago, said “We are truly grateful for this incredibly kind and moving gesture by National Express West Midlands, especially as my Harry still does so much for our city and the people within it.

“It is a wonderful way to honour Harry and a fantastic way to connect back to the Walkathon route and bring the essence of the event to life. The number 11 bus route is also significant for us, as Harry was 11 when he passed in 2011, and it has now been 11 years since he left us.

“The aim of the Walkathon is to re-engage the community, boost community spirit, support post pandemic mental health issues and raise much needed funds; not only for HHHO but other amazing West Midlands charities too. We can’t thank National Express West Midlands enough for supporting HHHO in this way”.