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PRESS CUTTING
A steamy trip for charity . . .
Tavistock Today
Monday, August 17, 2009
DINGLES Fairground Heritage Centre near Lifton is gearing up to welcome a custom-built steam car on an historic charity drive from John O’Groats to Lands End, to raise money for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
Dean Rogers and Steve Baldock are driving the 991 miles in a specially built steam car ‘Lykamobile’, based on the famous Locomobiles of the early 1900s. It is the first time in around 100 years that a car like this has made the journey.
Dean was inspired to raise funds for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People by his friend Carl Morris, who has a hearing dog called Ingle.
Dean said: ‘I was so impressed with the whole idea of using dogs to help deaf people that I just wanted to help, so I built a plan — and a steam car. I have been so surprised by how few people have heard about the Hearing Dogs charity and I want to raise a significant amount of money for it.’
Dean set off from John O’Groats on August 2 and the whole journey is expected to last just over two weeks.
The Lykamobile has an average speed of 10 to 15 miles per hour, with a top speed of just 37 miles per hour. It has to stop once every hour to take on more water, and it has to be topped up with diesel twice a day.
The Lykamobile will be arriving at the Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre at around noon tomorrow (Friday). All are welcome to come along and see the car, meet local hearing dogs and puppies and to find out more about the charity’s work.
Attending the event will be Tavistock mayor Mandy Govier and West Devon deputy mayor John Hockridge.
Refreshments will be available in the centre’s café and everyone who attends will be able to make a day of it by having a look around the centre, which has fairground rides, working steam engines and vintage machinery.
Entry charges apply for the centre’s exhibits only. Cost is £7 for adults, £5 for children/senior, family tickets are also available.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a national charity that trains dogs to alert their deaf owners to everyday sounds like doorbells, oven timers and telephones, and also emergency noises like smoke alarms.
Dean’s company Steam Traction World, a UK firm specialising in making large scale models of steam cars that people then assemble at home, is bearing the costs of the trip. All donations will go to the charity. Back to Map Page
