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Rainham couple drive around Britain in 1968 Jaguar 420 for Parkinson's UK

A couple have reached the last leg of their driving challenge around Britain in a rare, classic Jaguar saloon.

Penny and Rob Farrow departed from their home in Rainham two weeks ago and are currently making their way to their final destinations.

Rob and Penny Farrow have always wanted to travel around the country. Picture: Penny Farrow
Rob and Penny Farrow have always wanted to travel around the country. Picture: Penny Farrow

Their 2,400-mile and counting trek is in aid of Parkinson’s UK and the pair have raked in almost £2,000 by visiting car shows, shopping centres and online fundraising.

Rob was diagnosed with the disease in 2017 and suffers severe muscle cramps at night which means he wakes up multiple times in pain.

His voice has also changed, he constantly looses his balance, has great difficulty swallowing and has found his memory has deteriorated and now only has a concentration span of half an hour.

But the classic car has helped give the 57-year-old a focus and encouraged him to get up and carry on with tasks, something he has battled with.

Penny, 57, said: "We always planned to do a trip around the country and after the pandemic it is good to now be able to do it.

"We do not know how much longer Rob will be able to drive for so we are doing it now. It is the ideal time really."

The pair have left Kilmarnock and are on their way to Skye in Scotland. Picture: Jennifer Farrow
The pair have left Kilmarnock and are on their way to Skye in Scotland. Picture: Jennifer Farrow
Rob suffers from Parkinson's and was diagnosed in 2017. Picture: Jennifer Farrow
Rob suffers from Parkinson's and was diagnosed in 2017. Picture: Jennifer Farrow

The retired couple from Nightingale Close have already driven to the Isle of Wight down to Land's End back up to Cheddar and around Wales, and reached Scotland before returning to Kent via Sunderland and Peterborough.

By the end of their challenge, they should have visited almost 20 different places.

According to Penny, their favourite spot so far has been Oban on the west coast of Scotland due to its beauty, although they do not spend more than a night in any one destination.

Before heading out on the three week adventure, the car fanatics had the oils and filters changes, the hoses replaced, the top core plugs changed and the radiator drained, flushed and refilled with anti-freeze.

They even completed a prior 261 mile trip to improve the car's mile per gallon.

The 1968 Jaguar 420 was one of the last built in the August of that year and the Jaguar driver's club only have 59 of these cars in existence.

The car in Ironbridge. Picture: Penny Farrow
The car in Ironbridge. Picture: Penny Farrow
Rob and his classic car in Cheddar. Picture: Jennifer Farrow
Rob and his classic car in Cheddar. Picture: Jennifer Farrow

They were presented with a £500 check from S.N.G Barratt who make parts for Jaguar's and won a trophy for the most miles travelled to Ayreshire classic car show in Kilmarnock.

The Farrows hope to be back in Kent by the end of the week but are already planning their next challenge for the charity.

You can find out more and donate through their Facebook page here.

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