Celebrating four momentous years of the Great British Car Journey.

Four years and counting…

Yes, it was Saturday May 22nd 2021 when after years of planning, lots of negotiations and a lot of sweat and sweat, we finally opened the Derwent Works to our first paying guests who were all wearing face masks and religiously sanitising hands due to a worldwide pandemic. 

The first day was manic as hundreds of people flooded in to see what all the fuss was about, after months of social distancing and restricted social contact. The first few months were really busy and we didn’t really slow down until Winter was upon us. Visitor numbers were encouraging and naively we thought that we might have underestimated the budget! 

And then in February 2022, war became a European reality as just as the pandemic was receding, Russia launched a full scale assault on Ukraine heralding mass slaughter and universal economic uncertainty. 

Visitor numbers slumped and it has been a long and winding road to keep the doors open and all the bills paid. 

However, probably against the odds and only due to incredible hard work from staff and support from the shareholders ,we can celebrate four years of nostalgia for a past which looks ever more different to the present and future. 

I would like to thank all my loyal staff, my shareholders and Directors, volunteers and that generous group of people who have given cars to us. I would also like to single out my wife Jane who has not only worked tirelessly at Ambergate but also managed the books so that they balance. She has also kept me focused on the things that really matter. 

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has visited and those who continue to visit regularly. Quite simply, without you there would be no Car Journey. 

So… what of the future?  Given the experience of the last five years, nothing is certain. I turn 68 very soon but thanks to wonderful medics and great support from Jane, I am in good shape and ready to take Car Journey and Drive Dads Car to new levels. 

This year we are making it even easier for more visitors to actually drive the cars and making the museum more appealing to families and children

Watch this space and if you have any thoughts or suggestions, please feel free to email richard@greatbritishcarjourney.com 

Thank you!