Hundreds turn out to see four stars in a car
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THE lure of four TV celebrities was enough for around 600 people to pitch up in the middle of night at John O’Groats to witness them finish an end-to-end charity drive.
The welcoming party lined the end-of-the-road area where the pink Rolls Royce Ghost, driven by Chris Evans, Gary Barlow, Brian Cox and James May, cruised in about 5.30am on Friday, just over an hour later than scheduled after the marathon drive from Lands End.
The mission in the car, which bears the FAB 1 number plate made famous by Lady Penelope of Thunderbirds fame, was to launch an appeal to raise more than £1 million for Breast Cancer Care.
Top Gear presenter James May was at the wheel on the final leg with the celebrities given a tumultuous reception at Groats.
They were treated to a champagne reception and fireworks, courtesy of Natural Retreats which runs a holiday chalet complex in the village.
Wick RBL Scotland Pipe Band Pipe Major Les Campbell performed "Cock of the North" as the foursome emerged from the car. May said they had achieved their main aim of helping raise awareness of the charity but that driving along with his three companions had been great fun.
"The trip is not going to go down as one of the great trekking challenges as we drove a luxury car through a nice country," he said.
"We have left a big pink trail of awareness which is what we set out to achieve as the car is now famous.
"It’s been wonderful to receive so much support and we thank everyone for coming out. It is touching and very much appreciated.
"It is great that so many people came out today but it is so cold and windy, how do people live here?"
Professor Cox joked that they were maybe feeling the cold because they were wearing Lands End clothing but said the welcome they received made them glow with pride.
"At the end of a long day which has lasted 20 hours, it has been wonderful the number of people who have turned out to welcome us – there has to be a lot more here than the whole population of John O’Groats.
"It is very cold but they turned it into such a warm morning for us.
"John O’ Groats is such a beautiful place and the pleasure of coming here is all ours."
Chris Evans made a brief appearance before being whisked off to Wick Airport to travel by private jet to Inverness to do his Radio 2 breakfast show. Barlow, Cox and May stayed behind to meet with fans.
The Rolls Royce Ghost is to base a year-long campaign to raise at least £1 million for Breast Cancer Care. Inspired by his childhood passion for Thunderbirds, Evans came up with the idea after his mother Minnie was given the all-clear after being diagnosed with the disease.
The car is to be available for hire and special packages and competitions will also be on offer, with people given the chance to be chauffeured in FAB1 to high-profile sports and entertainment events.
Janette Jansson, Natural Retreats general manager at John O’Groats, said the visit of the four stars has done a lot to promote the area as well as raise money for a great cause.
"It means everything to us here. It gives the place so much publicity," she said.
"We are have been heavily involved in the regeneration of the area so to have them arriving and meeting with local people makes it a fabulous occasion."
The stars made a special request via Facebook to ice cream shop Flavours to have cones ready before the arrival.
However, manager Sandra Thain said not all the celebrities ended up with an ice cream.
"James May was the lucky recipient with a toffee fudge ice cream on a honeycomb sparkler cone." she said.
"Sadly, Gary Barlow wasn’t fast enough and his cone went to his bodyguard in the car behind!"
To see more photos and read interviews with people who camped out overnight to see their celebrity heroes, see this week's (April 24) Caithness Courier.
