Former farmer’s tractor trip
A DRIVER in his late 70s is cruising Scotland’s byways on a 1960s tractor for charity.
THE DRIVER of a 1960 Fordson Dexta tractor trundled into Campbeltown during a sponsored trip raising money for Cancer Research UK.
David McLaren, 78, was welcomed by members of the Cancer Research UK Kintyre fundraising committee when he arrived in the Wee Toon on Thursday. The committee handed him a donation.
The retired farmer decided to attempt the challenge in memory of his wife Elizabeth, who died from cancer in 2014.
David left Perthshire on Saturday July 2, wearing a kilt, perched on the cab-less 38 horsepower vehicle. ‘There are not many boys my age who would tackle a challenge like this,’ David told the
Courier. ‘You have to keep active as you get older.’
Although occasionally David sleeps in the campervan support vehicle, many nights he beds down in a box specially fitted to the trailer he tows, which he restored last year.
In 2003, he drove the Dexta the 900 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats and raised more than £14,500 for Cancer Research.
Mr McLaren said: ‘Four months after the last trip in 2003 we discovered Elizabeth had kidney cancer. The last run was a fantastic experience and we made a lot of friends.’
One of his friends is Willie Reid at Glenside Tractors in Campbeltown, who was very happy to renew the acquaintance last week.
Willie said: ‘I have known David for years from meeting him at vintage rallies. His Dexta brings back memories as my dad bought a new one in 1959 for £590.’
Anyone can sponsor his fundraising efforts by donating to Sponsored Run Around Scotland at Bank of Scotland 80-22-60 Account Number 14359061.