Beaulieu volunteer plans longest solo ride in aid of charity

Peter Driver, a 74-year-old retired mechanical engineer, has been a familiar face at the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu for the past ten years.

He hopes his journey - the longest solo ride he has ever undertaken - will raise a large sum for the mental health charity Mind.

Peter is a volunteer at the museum’s workshop, where he works on the maintenance and restoration of classic vehicles.

Peter driver is embarking on an 800-mile motorcycle ride in aid of the mental health charity Mind (Image: Peter Driver)

A museum spokesperson said: "In his spare time Peter enjoys taking to the road on his BMW F700 GS and has always enjoyed the freedom that biking provides.

"He and his wife June have taken many touring holidays during their time together, including a trip from their home to southern Spain.

"It was June's idea for him to take on this challenge for Mind. She knows how much he still enjoys riding and it's a charity close to his heart, having known of people suffering mental health problems."

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Peter will be waved off by family and colleagues from the museum when he sets off from Beaulieu on Wednesday, September 4.

"He will cover the 800 miles over six days, taking in other museums and places of interest en-route," said the spokesperson.

Peter Driver in his younger days (Image: Submitted)

Peter will travel to Sheffield via the west of England and parts of Wales. During his return journey he will  visit the eastern counties of Norfolk, Essex, Kent and Sussex, arriving back at Beaulieu on Monday, September 9.

He said: "I’m really excited by the challenge. Despite knowing it's going to be hard work, I hope to raise as much money as I can."

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Mind has more than 100 branches across England, Wales, and the Channel Islands.

New figures show they helped 623,361 people with their mental health in the past 12 months - an increase of 25 per cent on the previous year.

Chief executive Sarah Hughes said: "Every local Mind is different, but what they all have in common is a belief in the power of listening and being heard, giving people time to speak about their concerns and helping people to find the right support."

Peter's supporters can follow his progress during the ride by visiting Beaulieu’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/nationalmotormuseum.

They can also sponsor him his fundraising page - https://www.justgiving.com/page/peter-driver-1718124446250