TRIUMPH ROADSTER 1947 and MacMILLAN CANCER RELIEF

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I was invited to participate in the The All Party Parliamentary Classic car Run on July 8th 2000 and again in 2001 in Penny, my 1947 1800 Triumph Roadster, representing Epsom.

Joining me was Helen Young who had then recently become the first female chief of the BBC's weather broadcasting team, managing luminaries such as Michael Fish and John kettley. Before our departure she was available to sign autographs and collect any donations which local shoppers wished to hand in.

We were waved off from the Clock Tower in Market Square by the deputy Mayor Cllr. Eber Kington and the then prospective Conservertive parliamentary canditate Chris. Grayling.

As we arrived at the Palace of Westminster we were greeted by motor racing legend, Sir Stirling Moss OBE . and photographed with him and our car. We then had tea on the terrace after which Sir Stirling presented all those taking part in the Run with special mementos bearing the logo of the famous portcullis. The event organised by the Parliamentary All-Party Motor Group in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief, raised a record breaking £23,000. We were congratulated as the third most successful individual entry, having raised over £1,400 and received a prize. A

total of 70 Classic cars from around the country took part in the Run, the oldest was a 1914 Rover from Stoke Mandeville and the furthest travelled a 1950 Bentley MK VI driven by a vicar from Liverpool.

Richard Burden MP (Birmingham Northfield) and chair of the All-Party Motor Group - whose own constituency takes in the motor manufacturing heartland of Longbridge - took part in the run in a 1972 Rover P5B which had originally been the official car of Prime Minister Harold Wilson, on loan from the Historic Motor Centre at Gaydon .

The event was sponsored by Footman James and Company, specialist vehicle motor insurance brokers in the West Midlands.

In 2001 I was again invited by the All-Party Motor Group to participate in their Classic Car Run and again the benefiting Charity would be MacMillan Cancer Relief.

On this occassion my travelling companion was Sarah Wilmhurst, meteorologist at the BBC Weather Centre. Before we departed, Sarah made herself available to sign autographs and collect any donations from local shoppers.

Chris. Grayling MP for Epsom and Ewell together with The Mayor of Epsom and Ewell Cllr. Alan Carlson and the Lady Mayoress waved us off from the Clock Tower. On our arrival at the Palace of Westminster we were greeted by Murray Walker, F1 Motor racing commentator. After we had our photographs taken with him and Penny, tea` was taken on the terrace in the House. This was followed by the presentations made byMurray Walker. Thereafter, participants and their guests were taken on a tour of the House of Commons and the House of Lords (optional) by a member of the Group.