KENT coach operator The Kings Ferry came to
the rescue of Hollywood star John Travolta after
he was hounded by paparazzi during a visit to
the Continent.
The star of ‘Pulp Fiction’
and ‘Saturday Night Fever’ was travelling
with his family and entourage aboard the luxurious
Orient Express, but photographers swooped en
masse.
At Calais, his 14-strong group boarded The Kings
Ferry VIP coach for the transfer via the Channel
Tunnel to Folkestone where they were due to
rejoin the Express for the final leg back to
London, but decided to stay with the coach.
The Kings Ferry’s general manager Steve O’Neill said:
“We were only too happy to take him on to his hotel at Canary Wharf as our VIP coaches are used by The Orient Express particularly for the spacious accommodation and luxuries including leather seats.”
It was also yet another VIP day for the company’s
driver Bernie Sayer, who became the mascot of Millwall
FC after he drove them every mile of the road to meeting
Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
“John Travolta was a very nice man,” said
Bernie. “There were no Hollywood airs and graces
about him and it was pleasure to take him on to London.
I knew that he had been pestered by photographers
and was travelling with his family, so I guess he
felt enough was enough.
“In situations like this we just get on with
our job, but we do get quite a lot of celebrities
travelling with us.”
Bernie’s list includes Nick Faldo – he
drove the coach carrying the golfer’s stag party
–, George Best, harmonica player Larry Adler,
actress Angelica Huston – “A charming
lady,” recalls Bernie –, athlete Steve
Backley and footballer turned TV presenter Ian Wright.
“I was particularly impressed by Ian Wright,”
said Bernie. “We were travelling aboard the
Channel Shuttle and our coach was sandwiched between
two coachloads of schoolchildren clamouring for his
autograph.
“He could have ducked out after signing a few
but he gave every one of them his autograph –
a nice gesture.”
London
