google-site-verification: googlec7193c3de77668c9.html

My 4,000-mile tour of the coast in a vintage Land Rover

Df7f1a00 1df4 11f0 8e7e 67cb0e6ea9ba.jpg

George Thorpe & John Ayres

BBC News, Devon

BBC Derek Hernaman sits on the front bumper of his green Series 1 Land Rover which has Union flag bunting attached to it and a licence plate WYB 220. A vintage green Royal Navy vehicle is parked up next to the Land Rover. A white and green caravan is behind the Land Rover.BBC

Derek Hernaman, 71, with his Series 1 Land Rover – which he has named George

A man has completed a charity challenge to drive a 69-year-old Land Rover 4,000 miles (6,400km) around the British coast.

Derek Hernaman set off from Lynmouth, Devon, on 8 March in his Series 1 Land Rover – with a 79-year-old, 6ft-square caravan in tow. He has named the pair George and Mildred after the 1970s sitcom.

The agricultural engineer from Exmoor said the challenge had helped him raise £12,000 for Bowel Cancer UK and the Alzheimer’s Society.

Mr Hernaman, who set off his 71st birthday, said the journey had been an “absolute blast”.

Mr Hernaman said he had averaged about 100 miles (160km) a day, and managed to reach the top of Scotland, London’s Trafalgar Square and Land’s End in Cornwall.

He was greeted by a convoy of about 50 other Land Rovers for the final leg of the journey between Blackmoor Gate in Exmoor and Lynmouth.

“It is amazing to get here. I’ve just told George not to break down in the last few miles,” he said.

Derek Hernaman sits inside a small caravan he has towed around the British coast. He is sat on a double bed which has a number of bags and a bucket on it. He is smiling.

Mr Hernaman in his 6ft-square caravan, which he took all the way from Devon to Scotland

Mr Hernaman said despite a few breakdowns, the journey had been a lot of fun.

He added there had been a few scary moments to contend with on the roads.

“Coming down the A1 with lorries passing me at 60mph sent the Land Rover and caravan from one side to the other every few minutes,” Mr Hernaman said.

“But everything else has been absolutely a blast.”


BBC News

Views: 0

See also  Maltby pensioner fights off launderette mugger with jeans

Check Also

Report blue badge cheats, North East Lincolnshire Council urges

James Vardy, 77, and his wife, Pauline, 73, said their blue badges were essential for …

More days above 30C this summer than in 1976, Reading Uni finds

More days have reached at least 30C this summer than in 1976, previously the benchmark …

Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Valentino bags could fetch £40k at auction

Most wardrobe clear-outs involve bin bags and a trip to the charity shop, but one …

Leave a Reply

Available for Amazon Prime