Return of stolen trike ‘has restored my faith in humanity’
FORMER RAF PILOT REUNITED WITH TRICYCLE AFTER SUCCESSFUL FACEBOOK APPEAL
DAVID Parry, a former radio broadcaster and retired RAF Pilot, shot to Facebook fame when his much-loved tricycle was stolen from his home in Farnham.
Since the News & Mail reported on the theft, the bike was seen in Aldershot and now 90-year-old Mr Parry has been reunited with the eight-year old tricycle thanks to a South Western Railway employee.
When the tricycle was stolen on Saturday October 24, Mr Parry’s carer Emma Hobbs posted on Facebook hoping someone had seen the bike.
The post was shared more than 8,000 times and reached people in New Zealand and Canada.
The tricycle was found at Aldershot Train Station by Anish Bucktowar on Sunday October 25 and the bike was returned to Mr Parry on October 29, five days after it had been stolen.
Mr Bucktowar said he first spotted the bike during a security check of the station.
“It was just outside the main entrance – I did another check a while later and it was still in the same spot,” said Mr Bucktowar, who then put the bike in storage for safe keeping.
He later saw Miss Hobbs’ post on Facebook and messaged the carer to let her know the bike was safe. Mr Bucktowar eventually met Mr Parry on Tuesday November 3.
Mr Bucktowar said: “The meeting was good. I heard he was a pilot so we had a good chat about the planes he had been flying, but unfortunately I met him around 2pm and I had to get back to work at half two in Aldershot, so we only had a 20-minute talk.”
This was the first tricycle Mr Bucktowar has found and joins a list of unusual items left at stations and on trains.
He said he once found a golf cart and added: “There are always lots of things left behind on trains.”
Mr Bucktowar is keen to remind people that he isn’t the hero in this story, saying: “It was part of my job to keep attention of things on the platform, we always help people getting on and off the trains.”
“But I was very happy when I learned the tricycle had been reunited with the owner.”
Miss Hobbs’ Facebook post resulted in a huge community effort to look for the bike.
Mr Parry said the community rallied round to support him during the misfortune.
Local Waitrose employees offered to bring David food while he was without his bike, and even his postman had seen the Facebook post.
Locals at The Hop Blossom, in Farnham, raised money to buy a replacement bike for Mr Parry.
“I only knew about it when they said it was on it’s way, and I said I could not possibly accept,” he said.
Instead of letting the bike go to waste, Miss Hobbs organised an online auction to sell the replacement bike, which raised £350 for the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care.
“I give them money each month anyway, they are a wonderful charity, and I expect there may well come a time when I am in their care,” said Mr Parry.
Before Mr Parry’s original tricycle could be returned, the 90-yearold had already ordered a new electric tricycle.
“At one point I had three bikes, I went from none to three,” Mr Parry said.
“I am fortunate and lucky to receive such kindness, it has restored my faith in humanity.”
“But it’s all down to Emma and her detective skills, Detective Superintendent Emma Hobbs I call her.”
David is now a local celebrity thanks to the Facebook post.
Miss Hobbs said: “When we walk around town, everybody says to us that they are happy the bike is back.”
Before the bike was found, online supporters raised over £1,200 for a new tricycle. However, Mr Parry said he felt uncomfortable accepting the money so it was refunded.
“The post went a lot better than I thought it was going to.” said Miss Hobbs. “Somebody from Canada had seen it and wanted to donate to the fundraiser we had set up.”
Mr Parry’s new electric tricycle is currently being assembled, but for now, he will continue using the eightyear-old bike. Although he says he takes his bike lock much more seriously now.