The Big Red Bus
Big Red Bus . is raising money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity
In memory of Tobi Ren
Story
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To stream or download 'The Big Red Bus' song please click here
This is something we've created in memory of Tobi, that we'd like to share for free!
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The Big Red Bus - the story behind the song, specifically written, recorded & released in memory of Tobi and to raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital
‘The Big Red Bus’ was an idea invented by 8 year-old Tobi Ren from Stoke-on-Trent, as he explored ways to cope with his life being turned upside down after contracting a rare blood disease and spending many months in Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
When he was much younger, Tobi had a model red bus he loved to play with. During his time in hospital, the Big Red Bus developed as an idea in Tobi’s imagination - a safe place which he knew he could escape to and go off on adventures with his ‘tribe’ - his friends & family. Completely unknowing of this, at a similar time, one of Tobi’s friends had a dream in which Tobi was a conductor on a magical red bus and took his friends off on an incredible adventure.
In November last year, while Tobi was in ICU at Birmingham Children's Hospital, Tobi & his mum Elly shared the idea of The Big Red Bus with their friends Joe & Hoollee via an email.
‘The Big Red Bus’ became a song, co-written by 8 year-old Hoollee and her dad, as a ‘cheer up and get better’ song for Tobi, with the lyrics shaped from the words of the email.
To see early versions of the song, while it was still being written, click here
At the end of 2018, Tobi’s health deteriorated and tragically, on January 19th 2019, Tobi passed away, after 12 months of fighting a rare blood disease.
‘The Big Red Bus’ was adapted and performed live at Tobi’s Life Celebration by Hoollee, her dad Joe, Fluff (Tobi’s violin teacher) and Bianca, Zaira (aged 8) & Kiana (aged 6), friends of Tobi & his family.
The story of Tobi & ‘The Big Red Bus’ was picked up by the Love Music Education team at LIPA Primary School in Liverpool, who offered to help to record the song in studio, as a fundraiser for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
In June 2019, thanks to the kind loan of a double decker old-style red bus & driver/engineer from Potteries Omnibus Preservation Society, Tobi's Tribe enjoyed a trip out to Ford Hall Farm, where Tobi has a memory Cherry Tree planted. To view video footage of this day out, click here
Earlier the same day, Tobi's Tribe gathered at King Street Studios, Newcastle-under-Lyme to create artwork for The Big Red Bus animation.
To see photos from this amazing day, please our gallery at the bottom of this page.
Elly & Dave (Tobi’s mum & dad) express heartfelt gratitude for the care & support provided by all the staff at Birmingham Children’s Hospital for Tobi and have requested that funding raised through ‘The Big Red Bus’ is donated to Ward 12 (Cardiology), where Tobi spent the first few months after becoming ill.
...coming soon - 'The Big Red Bus' animation!
For a sneak preview of the early storyboard, click here https://youtu.be/gMPPQ1u-H-8
PLEASE SEE PHOTO GALLERY BELOW