Teachers' cycle challenge to support community

2 December 2025

Cathy AlexanderWest of England

News image — The head teachers said the air ambulance is a vital resource for their rural community

Moorland Federation Two male and one female head teachers in a school playground. One of the men is sitting on a bicycle. — The head teachers said the air ambulance is a vital resource for their rural community

The community left reeling in the aftermath of a school coach crash is coming together to raise funds for the air ambulance that played a key role in the emergency response.

Three Moorland Federation headteachers will be cycling between its eight schools in Exmoor, Somerset, joined by the father of 10-year-old Oliver Price.

Oliver died of a head injury when a coach carrying Minehead Middle School pupils left the road near Wheddon Cross in Somerset and slid down a 6m (20ft) slope on 17 July.

Paul James, who was Oliver's head teacher at Dunster First School, said: "The air ambulance was an integral part of that event and such a valuable resource".

A head and shoulders picture of Jon Moise-Souch wearing a silver cycling helmet and a yellow hi-vis jacket, smiling at the camera. He is standing in a school playground in front of a group of children wearing raincoats and red uniform jumpers. — Headteacher Jon Moise-Souch says the fundraising challenge is "part of the healing process"

Jon Moise-Souch, head of Langford Budville Primary School, said they wanted to "show solidarity with the family, to Minehead Middle school and to the whole community which was affected by the crash".

"It's part of the whole healing process as the shock ricocheted across the whole community and county," he added.

PA Media A group of people standing outside and looking at the line of floral tributes left outside Minehead Middle School. Two children are stood on the left hugging and a woman and a girl are hugging on the right. None of them are looking at the camera. — Groups and families have left tributes and notes at the school after the crash in July

Joining Mr James, Mr Moise-Souch and Oliver's dad Matt will be Lucy Walker-Blair, headteacher at St Dubricius.

Together they will cover miles of winding Exmoor lanes and hill climbs, visiting each of the Federation's schools, starting from St Dubricius in Porlock, to Dunster, Timberscombe, Cutcombe, Exford, Dulverton Junior and All Saints Schools, finishing at Langford Budville. They will also ride past Minehead Middle School.

Children from the schools have been designing posters and banners to hold up as the cyclists pass them, as well as holding mini-fundraisers in each school.

The three headteachers cycling along the road past a crowd of children on the pavement, who are smiling, waving and clapping as they pass them. — The three headteachers will be cycling between eight schools

"We're incredibly proud to see the challenge the head teachers from West Somerset are taking on in support of our life-saving work," said Charlotte Humber, supporter engagement officer for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

"Every mission we fly costs around £3,500 and with no direct government funding, initiatives like this make a real difference, especially for people in rural communities who rely on our service," she added.

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