Joy as cyclist’s missing camera turns up in Reay

A CHARITY cyclist was “absolutely gobsmacked” when the digital camera he lost a week ago on a marathon run to John O’Groats was handed into the shop in Reay.

Stephen Durrant was delighted when police in Wick contacted him in Newcastle to tell him the good news.

“I resigned myself to losing it so it was fantastic to hear that it has been found. I am absolutely gobsmacked and just can’t believe it,” he told the John O’Groat Journal yesterday.

Stephen said the camera – a black Lumix model – was a present from his wife and contained over 300 photos taken at various locations on his end-to-end trip.

“It is great news and means I will have all the memories of the journey and be able to put them on a disc,” he said.

Stephen, who works in a factory, was gutted when he discovered he had lost the camera.

He stopped to take a picture of the Welcome to Caithness sign after cycling from Strathy at the beginning of the month.

He then stopped at the shop in Reay to buy a couple of chocolate bars and was about to take a picture of the Welcome to Thurso sign when he noticed the camera was missing.

Stephen carried on to John O’Groats to complete his journey then retraced his route in an attempt to find the camera without success. He reported his loss to police but did not expect to see the camera again.

Ian Stewart, the proprietor of The Reay Shop, told the Groat a young lad from Melvich spotted the camera in the door of the premises and handed it in.

Mr Stewart, who saw the article about the missing camera in Wednesday’s Caithness Courier, contacted police.

“I am absolutely delighted that he is going to get his camera back. I felt sorry for the guy.

“It was shame he lost the camera with all his photos on it. I couldn’t contact him directly so I got in touch with the police in Wick after seeing the article in the Courier.

“It is great he will get the photos back,” said Mr Stewart.

Fifty-year-old Stephen undertook the cycle run to raise funds for the Jennifer Trust for Spinal Muscular Atrophy after his nephew Craig Culyer and partner Donna Leggett lost their young son Jayden to the condition.

Stephen completed the trek in 12 days and so far has raised around £3000 for the charity.

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