A MAN who 'loves buses' had the number of his favourite service tattooed onto his chest.
Charlie Chamberlain, 26, has used the 376 First Bus - running between Bristol and Glastonbury - since he was a child.
Now musician DJ Charlie has had the service number inked across his body.
Charlie ‘CHAS23’ Chamberlain is one of the members of the multi-genre DJ quartet called '3SEVEN6'.
They have named themselves after their much-loved 376 bus service, which passes through villages including Pensford, Chewton Mendip, and Clutton.
And this month they are marking their first anniversary performing as '3SEVEN6', on top of the 376 bus.
Charlie ‘CHAS23’ Chamberlain, 26, from Glastonbury, Harley ‘CUB’ Kingham, 22, from Street, Hayden ‘HAINS’ Salter, 24, from Wells and Josh ‘DOUBLE VISION’ Herridge, 28, from Frome, said it was a “dream come true” to be performing on the bus.
The performance will take place during Glastonbury carnival this weekend on Saturday, November 16, outside Glastonbury Town Hall between 3pm and 5.30pm.
Charlie said: “My parents used to have a bus when we were kids and we used to do festivals and go on holiday in it – so that’s where my love for buses really started.
“We were already DJing under different names before we formed a group and the boys said ‘let’s call it 3SEVEN6’.
“There is such a massive local cult following for the 376 bus. It’s part of a lot of people’s lives when they want to go out. Some of the best nights of my life have started on the back of the bus.
“We have joked about DJing on the actual 376 for so long; we still can’t actually believe we have been given the opportunity to do that. When I told the rest of the guys we had the chance to do it they lost their minds.”
The ‘3SEVEN6’ boys - whose music ranges from UK garage and speed garage to jungle and drum and bass - have been consistently putting on dance music events in their home town of Glastonbury, and regularly pack out local venues and would love the opportunity to perform at Glastonbury Festival.
‘3SEVEN6’ will be performing on Saturday alongside two other huge 376 fans, The Bad Cowboys.
Formed by Steve Bilsborough, 57, from Glastonbury and John Carroll, 57, from Wells, a song written by the duo, who have performed at Glastonbury Festival, has hundreds of fans across Somerset.
The song is a comedic take on the journey from Glastonbury to Bristol - including the names of several towns and villages along the route.
Steve, who lives in Glastonbury and works as an aerospace project manager, explains that The Bad Cowboys’ love of the 376 also comes from it providing freedom from the countryside to the city as a teenager.
He said: “Most of the music we do is nostalgic, and in the early days John said he really wanted to write a song about the bus because when we were growing up in the 1980s it was your escape; you’d go to Bristol – the big city.
Christian Lockyer, PR Manager for First West of England, said: “There’s bus fans…and then there’s bus fans, and these guys have taken it to the next level.
"The DJs naming themselves after the bus service is one thing but getting a tattoo and showing the bus route on a big screen is another, and we love it! And The Bad Cowboys writing and performing a song dedicated to the 376 is just genius – it’s also a great catchy tune.
“But there is a more serious side to this; their story of using the 376 bus service to find freedom from the rural parts of Somerset to the bright lights of Bristol is really inspiring. It shows the freedom that bus travel can offer, especially to those living in more isolated areas or with limited access to transport.
“We can’t wait to see them climb aboard the 376 at Glastonbury Carnival and perform on the bus which has been such an inspiration to them.”