Sunbeams rally to appeal

A GROUP of vintage car drivers are rallying to the call to help raise £1 million to develop a new children's ward at Raigmore Hospital.

The Sunbeam Talbot Alpine Club is holding its national rally in the Inverness area in July when about 100 members from across the UK and Europe are expected to take part. Rally organiser John Oliver, who read about the children's ward appeal in The Inverness Courier, said it would be one of four charities to benefit from the two-day event.

Launched by the ARCHIE Foundation and supported by the Courier, the ambitious appeal aims to transform the existing department into a child-centred and family-friendly environment with improved facilities and new equipment.

"This appeal is very important to the people of Inverness and the whole of the Highlands," said Mr Oliver of Ardersier. "It has to be at the forefront of people's minds. I have family and grandchildren and I think it is very important."

Mr Oliver, who bought his first Sunbeam in 1960, now owns a rare 1939 Sunbeam Talbot.

The rally, on 2nd and 3rd July, will start at Simpsons Garden Centre at Inshes where the Sunbeams will be on display between 9am and 10am before setting off to Culloden Battlefield. They will later be driven to the Bogbain Heritage Centre just off the A9 south of Inverness for the club's annual general meeting.

On the Sunday, the cars will be on display at Bogbain between 9am and noon and any owners of classic cars, motorcycles and tractors are also invited to join.

The other charities to benefit from the event will be the Fort George Regimental Museum, the Scottish SPCA and CLIC Sargeant which helps children and young people with cancer.