Pair to take vintage tractors with top speed of 19mph on 400-mile road trip for Shropshire charities

Last year, the 60-year-old from Albrighton undertook a 700-mile round trip to Scotland in one of his vintage tractors, a mammoth adventure that raised over £7,000 for the Alzheimer's Society.

On Thursday, Paddy will set off on his un-restored 1963 Fordson New Performance Super Major tractor on a trip to the South Downs in time to join the National Vintage Tractor Road Run on Easter Sunday.

Joined by his friend, Paul Hill, the pair will traverse the back roads of Shropshire, starting with a dawdle through Ironbridge and Broseley, before hitting Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and East Sussex at a top speed of 19mph.

"It's bouncy," Paddy explained, "but to be honest, I've got prolapsed intervertebral discs in my back and driving this old tractor, the vibration actually helps my back.

"You do get a bit stiff - there's no creature comforts, not like the newer tractors. It rattles and clanks and bangs.

"But the feeling is hard to explain, it's like a golfer hitting a hole-in-one or the fisherman that pulls the big one in.

"I just enjoy pottering around. You see the countryside and people of all ages stop and wave. The majority of people are really friendly."

Along the way, Paddy and Paul plan on making a pit stop at Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm near Chipping Norton.

After taking part in the road run in Plumpton Green, the pair will return via the same route.

"Fingers crossed and the wind blowing in the right direction, I'll be back in my own bed on Wednesday," Paddy said.

This time, the pair are raising funds for two local charities, Lingen Davies and the Newport & Gnosall District Lions for their prostate cancer screening events.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/page/patrick-gandy-1707929901617.