AN ENGLISHMAN is just back from the trip of a lifetime – having spent two months driving around the Irish coast on a 12mph tractor to raise money for charity.
Peter Matheson who is living in Inverness took his trusty 1974 Massey Ferguson 135 on the 3,500-mile lap of Ireland to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
In all, he has raised more than £2,000 so far – and the donations are still coming in.
His unusual way of fundraising began last year when he took his tractor, affectionately called Annie, on a trip down the length of Britain and as far north as Norway.
“I had gained a big Irish following from the first trip,” Mr Matheson revealed to The Irish Post. “So it made sense that it would be my next adventure.”
After inheriting some money, Mr Matheson decided to invest in a tractor – an unusual move for a retired policeman with no farming background, but he had a plan.
“My friends lost their son to a rare stomach disease almost two years ago and I’d been donating online but I wanted to do something more,” he said.
Cue Tractor Bumble, his adventure that took him from the Highlands of Scotland to Norway – and more recently around Ireland.
Mr Matheson and Annie disembarked the boat at Larne harbour in Co. Antrim on July 6 and last Sunday, exactly two months after they set out, pulled into the harbour once more.
“I went right around Ireland and particularly loved Cork,” he admitted.
Peter Matheson with Annie the tractor and his Labrador Amber“The people in Ballymaloe House were incredibly generous. They were holding a garden festival and invited me to stay for the weekend and I managed to raise €500 there alone.”
As he made his way from south to north, Mr Matheson was blown away by the generosity of the people he met on his way.
“The people really made it,” he said. “I had so much great support along the way. The Irish people really lived up to their reputation of being welcoming.”
With no plan in mind, Mr Matheson would bounce along in Annie for as long as he felt he could every day before stopping in the next town or village for the night.
He was kept company on his trip by his faithful companion, his pet Labrador Amber, and his co-pilot who drove alongside him in a Land Rover towing a caravan where they would spend their nights.
After pulling in to Larne harbour on Sunday for the final part of his journey, Peter plans to put his feet up in the coastal Antrim town for a few days before heading home to his 24-year-old son who he describes as "immensely supportive" in his endeavours.
Now though, Annie is to go into retirement – as Mr Matheson has put her up for sale on eBay.
But he is not finished yet.
“Next year I’ve something big planned but I don’t want to give too much away yet,” he said. “But I’ll be doing something afloat!”
To donate to his fundraising efforts, go to his website TractorBumble.com.
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