Amazing OAP Expat Couple’s Charity Drive From France To Buxton Succeeds!

John and Kathy Elliot’s charity drive from southwestern France to the Derbyshire town of Buxton in a vintage tractor has been a total success!

The pair’s 900-plus km journey in their reconditioned vintage farm tractor was undertaken to raise money for research into Motor Neuron Disease after a close friend died of the distressing condition. Their 1957-vintage tractor has a top speed of around 15 miles per hour, with the journey taking 78-year old John and his 76-year old wife two full weeks of travel at an average of 100kms a day.

The couple have lived in Castelnau Riviere-Basse for 15 years following their emigration from Buxton to France and the tractor, a gift from a friend, needed a good overhaul before it was ready for the journey. In order to keep down their own expenses, John also converted an ancient camping trailer to a cosy caravan-style home in which they slept and ate, decorating its sides with signs advertising their donation website in honour of their deceased friend. T

he expat couple are amazed the tractor held up so well on its long journey, with John adding he’d only had to adjust several bearings and replace the fuel pipe in addition to basic maintenance. The cute vehicle will now stay in Buxton, with its owners making several charity appearances before returning to their Pyrenees home town in August. To date, they’ve received almost £3,000 in donations for the MND Association and will be attending the annual Buxton Carnival this weekend and several other regional events later in the summer season, after which the tractor will be moved to his son’s home in Castleton.