The Concluding Legs!

After all the rain in Milton Keynes and Oxford, came sunshine and joy (well it stopped raining for a bit anyway), which meant that the three remaining Nationwide Repair Centres could get on with their efforts relatively uninterrupted...except by the the arrival of George, Zippy and Bungle costumes.

To say that our team have embraced dressing up would be an understatement, they have absolutely LOVED it!

Nationwide Leicester received the torch from ADR Leicester on the Monday morning, and delivered it by bicycle, to Crashworth in the afternoon. Gary Reader, James Bell and Jason Haynes cycled from Leicester to Wolvey with a support van from Enterprise in case of any mishaps along the way, which I am delighted to say didn't occur!

Up next was the turn of Nottingham, and they really got into the spirit of the relay...a massive well done to Paul Stephenson, Emma Nyland, Anthony Bradshaw and Thomas Kerry who ensured that along the way from Nottingham to ADR Chesterfield that Zippy was well rested, Bungle had cash and George had something to read:

But, after helping a stranded car owner with a  bit of a push, they delivered the torch successfully!

So, Harrogate, how are you going to top that?

By getting into the Jubilee and Olympic celebrations, that's how. Red, white and Blue Range Rover Evoques took the torch in considerable style to Alton Cars in Leeds, and yes, George, Zippy and Bungle got to ride again...

Rain, rain, oh and some more rain...

...but it won't stop Nationwide!

Today not only saw a month's rain fall in one day, but it was also the day that Nationwide Milton Keynes and Nationwide Oxford joined in with the Torch Relay.

Milton Keynes received the torch last evening, and after a night's rest and the torch on charge, an extremely relaxed team donned the George, Zippy and Bungle costumes and set off for Enterprise Aylesbury.

A little mix up at Enterprise meant that the torch was a little stuck, but never fear, Nationwide to the rescue...torch successfully collected from Aylesbury and returned to Oxford, where the George, Zippy and Bungle costumes caused much excitement.

All this rain, and the Silverstone Grand Prix has given the Oxford team a bit of a challenge to get to the ABP Club in Leicester by close of play, but they are on their way in the Nationwide Mercedes, and we're sure they'll arrive safe and sound in a few hours.

The team at Oxford certainly gave them a good send off, once Bungle and Zippy had finished their tussle that is...

Next stop for Nationwide on the Torch Relay is our Leicester Repair Centre on Monday and rumour has it they are on two wheels...!

Nationwide Wokingham go for a drive!

The weather might have been a bit on the damp side but the spirits at Nationwide are still well and truly buoyant, as the team at Wokingham proved with their leg of the I Love Claims Torch Relay. Receiving the torch from Enterprise Reading the night before, the Wokingham team set off on Thursday morning for Southampton. But not  before a spot of dressing up.

There's something irresistible about the George, Zippy and Bungle costumes that makes grown men want to wear them...Wokingham were certainly no exception. And so, George, Zippy and Bungle set off for Southampton:

On their way they raised several hundreds of pounds for the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity too, well done Nationwide Wokingham.

Next up Milton Keynes and Oxford...

Nationwide Swindon take up the mantle

A new week saw Nationwide Swindon take on their leg of the I Love Claims Torch Relay, and they certainly got into the spirit of the event. Involved in this leg of the event were Elizabeth Spiteri, Mark Coates, Adrian Eatwell, Liam Miller and Trevor Jones.

Despite having to stop on way to put roof up for a bit due to the rain it didn't dampen their spirits as you can see by the pictures. All the way from Swindon to Newbury the happy bunch were met with lots of cheers and horns beeping through the towns, and yes and the costumes stayed on until they were at Newbury.

Well done Swindon!

The torch will reach Nationwide Wokingham next, we'll report what they get up to in the next post!

Sun, rain, bicycle, van and Aston Martin!

Two days into the Nationwide participation in the I Love Claims Torch Relay and three legs have been completed, here's how they unfolded:

Bristol started the day in glorious sunshine. Having received the torch from Lyons Davidson the evening before, the two cyclists and two support vehicles were ready and raring to go at 9am. With George, Zippy and Bungle on hand to send them on their way, we had the perfect photo opp...



And away they went, we caught up with them en route at a rather iconic spot.






After around 14 miles of sunshine and sweat, the entourage arrived at Copart UK for the handover.


Copart then set off for Nationwide Newport, where we greeted them for the handover:

It was at Newport that George, Zippy and Bungle lent a helping hand in the workshop and on reception, and then set the team on their way!

A very warm afternoon meant that George and Bungle needed to provide refreshment along the 18.85mile route, before arriving at New Law Solicitors in Cardiff to hand over the torch for the next leg of the relay.

 

Which brought day one and sadly the sunshine to an end!

Day two saw Cardiff Repair Centre's involvement, and unfortunately the rain play a part. Cardiff planned to take the torch with the roof down in an Aston Martin Virage loaned to us by Stratstone Aston Martin in Cardiff, the rain suggested otherwise. So poor Zippy had to squash in and make his way to Bridgend competitors, Motorvation, so even more important that we showed off the Aston Martin! But not before we stopped off at Nationwide Bridgend to say hello. It's fair to say that the rain couldn't dampen our fighting spirit or team ethos!

The joy of dressing up!

With only a few days to go until Bristol kick off our participation in the Torch Relay, the costumes arrived at Bristol. And guess what...within minutes of their arrival they we 'tested for size' apparently. I think they fit just fine!

One week to go!

Well, with only a week to go until our Bristol Repair Centre take delivery of the I Love Claims Torch from Lyons Davidson in Bristol, the most important detail has been arranged...George, Zippy and Bungle costumes.


We simply cannot wait to see who will be taking on each character as we set the torch on its way on the 20th to the care of Copart, by bicycle. But will the rider be George, Zippy or Bungle? Will they stay on two wheels?


Copart are then taking the torch to our Newport Repair Centre, who have opted for four wheels rather than two, will Zippy be driving the Evoque though? Will George and Bungle be in the back?


Newport then deliver the torch to New Law Solicitors in Cardiff. With the torch ultimately ending up at our Cardiff Repair Centre courtesy of Lyons Davidson once more. Cardiff Repair Centre have then arranged a rather spectacular set of four wheels to take the torch to Motorvation Body Repairs in Bridgend, I strongly suspect that neither George, Zippy nor Bungle will get to drive this particular beauty!!!


Motorvation will then deliver the torch to our Pontypridd Repair Centre who may be taking to foot for the delivery of the torch to Enterprise Rent A Car in Merthyr Tydfil...given the hilly nature of this section I'm not sure Bungle will be running this one, but I'm sure he'll be following just behind with a bucket for donations!


Personally, I can't wait for the photos next week, and as soon as they are taken be sure they'll appear on here!