Steve Moore : A test of patience and motivation today. After the rollercoaster day we had in Dublin yesterday, I was hoping things would get a little easier. Life is never that simple I’m afraid. After 8 days of hitting the road hard and visiting all the charities, my body and mind have seen better days. It is truly an eye opener to what 9 months on the road will be like. Read more →
Amy Harpin: Today was a Follow That Fire Engine rollercoaster, there were highs, there were lows, there were times when we didn’t know how to feel, and times when it felt like the ‘luck of the Irish’ was definitely starting to rub off on us.
Dave Stewart: Today the FTFE 360 tour rolled into Belfast on the hottest day of the year so far! Absolute scorcher and everyone is looking better… well, pinker, for it! Read more →
Chris Hallward: What a start for me. Arrive in to the news of an epic day in the city centre, with unbound generosity from the good people of Glasgow.
Today consists of a convoy of one fire engine (you may have heard of this?) and a classic 1950s Citroen, from Lochwinnoch to the ferry port in Stranraer, via the beautiful coastline of western Scotland. My first day driving on the open road and I got lucky – the drive is easy and the scenery is spot on – morale is high. Just driving the old girl this short distance hammers home the enormity of the challenge ahead.
James Morrow: Even though we only spent 12 hours in Edinburgh I realised how gorgeous the city is. Our morning drive took us around the old town and the imposing Castle that proudly dominates the city.
We were driving from Edinburgh to Glasgow to visit The Scottish Headquarters of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. A quick phone call en route from Steve to the Strathclyde Fire department allowed us to park Martha safely and also gave us the added bonus of eating our first official Fireman’s fry-up complete with a “Lorne”, basically square sausage meet and extremely tasty as we had missed breakfast again, leaving Edinburgh in a rush to avoid the traffic wardens.
James Morrow: So our first stop was at BBC Radio Leeds where Steve was to have his third Radio interview, with Amy on hand to bring the story a local link. While I played press photographer both of them seemed to have a lot of fun with presenter Andrew Edwards. Steve is now becoming a polished performer with his interview technique constantly improving. Check out the write up they gave Follow That Fire Engine, http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bradford/hi/people_and_places/religion_and_ethics/newsid_8695000/8695185.stm, fantastic!
Amy Harpin: Wakefield is a place close to my heart, so I was keen to make sure it featured highly on the Follow That Fire Engine UK tour itinerary. I knew the crew would receive a warm welcome, but above all that the Harpins know how to throw a good party! I was a bit worried about holding a Barn Dance on a Tuesday night, but I needn’t have been, with family and friends we managed to fill the West Yorkshire Theatre Dance Centre with around 50 eager hoe-downers.
Steve Moore: Today we were lucky to meet two wonderful chaps; Roy and Ray. The meet was set-up by the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. One of the foundation’s key services is its support groups. Roy and Ray told us first-hand how important these groups are to people, both suffering from lung cancer, and recovering from treatment.
Amy Harpin: We couldn’t have hoped for a better day, the FTFE crew met England cricket captain Andrew Strauss, The Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and London Mayor Boris Johnson, we were filmed by a camera crew, toured London Town, were touched by the generosity of pupils at Aldenham School and had kids climbing all over the fire engine at Halesowen Cricket Club.
Starting on 17th May, the Follow That Fire Engine crew will embark on an exciting dress rehearsal for their expedition to circumnavigate the globe later this year: the UK360 Tour. To see where we will be and when, click here
Over the course of two weeks, the team and their fire engine will travel more than 2,000 miles around the four corners of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The route will take them from London, up to Scotland, across the sea to Ireland, back again to England and Wales, ending up on May 29th at the spiritual base of the FTFE expedition in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, which is home to several members of the FTFE crew.
