Paul Spence sees his KCOM van as a symbol of hope
It may just be a name on the side of a van – but to Paul Spence it represents much more.
The challenge of scoring a full house at KCOM van bingo may have just become more difficult - but the committed band of van spotters say they are equal to the task.
The challenge of scoring a full house at KCOM van bingo may have just become more difficult - but the committed band of van spotters say they are equal to the task.
Recently KCOM asked for another 12 names to brighten up the sides of its new vans as they travel the highways and byways of Hull and East Yorkshire – and you didn’t disappoint.
The public nominated a dozen worthy local heroes, heroines and landmarks to join KCOM’s fleet of nearly a hundred vans which had already been named as part of the 2017 City of Culture celebrations.
Among the new heroes joining the likes of William Wilberforce and Jean “Bee Lady Bishop” in the KCOM fleet are the courageous tot Zoe Chambers, whose fight against heart disease inspired more than a million people to join the organ donor register, former Home Secretary and MP Alan Johnson and Andy Train – Hull’s famous “Gold Man”.
But extra names mean extra work for the many Van Bingo players who have been chalking off the vehicles as they’re spotted on the roads of Hull and East Yorkshire.
One of these is Lynnsey Pilmer, who works at the KCOM stadium as head of non-match day events at the venue.
Lynnsey, who is racing her colleagues to be the first to spot all the vans, is especially delighted to have one named after the KCOM Stadium.
She said: “It’s a great idea to name the vans after local heroes. It’s really captured people’s imaginations. I know we’re all doing it in the office; there’s a real rivalry to spot them all first. We’ve even got a bottle of Prosecco waiting as the prize for the winner.”
Lynnsey and her rivals have to abide by certain competition rules if they want to claim the bottle of fizz – including having picture evidence of the van as proof and also that they have to be out and about on the roads.
“You can’t just go to the KCOM car park and spot them there,” she says. “That would be like going to the zoo to see lions. You have to see them out in the wild!
Lynnsey, who still needs The Right Reverend Alison White, Sir Tom Courtenay and Mick Ronson to complete her collection – but sees Lillian Bilocca “all the time”, says adding another dozen vans to the challenge will make the task a touch trickier.
“Yes, I suppose it will make it a bit more difficult with another 12 vans to spot, but it’s all good fun.”
To see the full list of local van heroes visit kcomhome.com/campaigns/hull2017vans/competition/ To download your own KCOM Van Bingo sheet visit www.kcomhome.com/media/2589924/van-bingo_v3.pdf
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