Ford Transit's 'Backbone of Britain' eco charity run

Ford dealership Stoneacre York has driven a Ford Transit ECOnetic round Battle of Britain sites ending up at Southampton on one tank of fuel.

The 650-mile journey, for Help the Heroes, and the RAF Benevolent Fund, connected 12 locations associated with the World War II battle during its 70th anniversary.

"Ford’s Southampton Transit plant is the same factory that built the Spitfire," said Nigel Little, project leader, Stoneacre. "With this being the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the 45th birthday of the Transit, it seemed the perfect time to commemorate those events and also to raise some cash for worthy causes."

The Stoneacre squad and their Transit ECOnetic set off from the York dealership last Wednesday (20 Oct) and visited the Yorkshire Air Museum at the old bomber station of Elvington before heading to the RAF base at Leconfield in North Humberside. RAF Wittering, near Peterborough, was the next stop, followed by the old Norfolk fighter base at Coltishall, the Imperial War Museum Duxford, and the Essex Battle of Britain station at Debden. The next location was Great Baddow, one of the locations of the Chain Home radar mast sites, and day one ended at Biggin Hill.

Day two saw the Stoneacre York Transit at the Kent airfields of Manston and Kenley, as well as historic West Sussex airbase Tangmere, before a call at the old Supermarine Spitfire factory site at Woolston, near Southampton. Journey’s end was the Eastleigh Ford Transit plant, near the old Eastleigh Airport, from which the Spitfire made its maiden flight.

"We finally arrived at the Transit factory at 13.04 on the 21st October after covering 669 miles over two days" said Nigel. "We were met by members of the Pompey Paras, the RAF Benevolent Fund, Transit Plant Manager, Thomas Fischer, and HR Manager Rob Ardley.

Stoneacre York’s fund raising can be supported via the following links: justgiving.com/StoneacreFordYorkHFH and justgiving.com/StoneacreFordYorkRAF