Welcome to your local community website...

Mechanic's car tribute to friend

Posted by Ed Saunt on Nov 19, 09 05:32 PM in Good Causes

baker car.JPG Driving his Mazda sports car can reduce Stuart Baker to tears. But the 33-year-old mechanic is not emotional over the time or money he has spent on the car - he has turned the motor into a memorial to his friend who died of cancer.

Stuart, of Redford Close, Feltham, grew up with Peter Bourne, who died aged 33 of Leukaemia almost exactly two years ago. Ever since he has wanted to find an unusual way of remembering his friend and raising money for a cancer charity, so he came up with the idea of turning a car into a shrine.

He has spent about £2,000 decorating and kitting out the Mazda roadster and will be raising money for the Royal Marsden cancer hospital by charging youngsters for rides in the sports car at St Lawrence's school fete on November 29.

He said: "It's quite emotional driving it because it makes me think of my friend. It made me a bit tearful when I was driving the other day because I thought of Peter and how he would feel about me doing something to help other people."

Peter, of Templedene Avenue, Staines, worked for BAA until he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2006. He died in October 2007.

Stuart said: "When he got cancer it was such a shock. I serviced his car on a Thursday and by the Monday he was dead.

"Our memories of him will always be happy. Wherever he was he was always smiling. His smile lit up the world. Even in his last days he was very happy. The car is a tribute to him - it's sad and happy at the same time.

"I'm sure people have seen me out and about in it in Feltham - hopefully now people will know what the car means."

Stuart will be giving rides in the car at the Victoria Road school on November 29 but he is also asking anyone who has seen the car out and about to make a donation to the hospital where Peter spent his last days.

Cheques payable to the Royal Marsden Cancer Campaign can be sent to: Stuart Baker, 7 Redford Close, Feltham, Middlesex, TW13 4TA.

We'd like to hear from you.
Send your stories, pics and videos