When W Bro Colin Waring’s grandson, Keiran, was born prematurely in 1992 he weighed in at just 1lb 11 oz and was given a 10% chance of living. He was clothed in bubble wrap to aid his survival in the Baby Unit of Derby Royal Hospital. Colin and his wife Jo were so grateful at the time to the dedicated staff at the Royal they organized a sponsored cycle ride, in which Colin and W Bro Mick Chappell, also of Bramcote Lodge cycled across Portugal and raised £1300.00 for the unit.

16 years on, W Bro Colin, who had not yet become a member of the craft at the time of his grandson’s birth, was installed as Worshipful Master of Bramcote Lodge. His aim, during his year of mastership, was to raise more money for the Premature Baby Unit of the Derby Royal by repeating the cycle trip, this time with Kieran, now a strapping 16 year old.

Colin, Kieran and Colin’s brother, Peter, set off in October from Santander in Northern Spain, cycled over some pretty mountainous terrain with heights of up to 4000 feet and arrived in Tavira, southern Portugal 12 days and 768 miles later. They did this without any support, carrying all their clothes and camping equipment on their bikes. The weary cyclists didn’t have much time to recover in Tavira before Colin had to be back for the Ladies Festival where Bramcote Lodge members were coerced into giving more money to the Baby Unit by way of a bumper raffle draw.

All told, Colin, Jo and Keiran raised a grand total of £2200.00 which was presented on 10th December 2009 to Head of Neo Natal Services at Derby Royal, Debbie Schofield and Sister Liz Brandon. (Photo shows Colin, Keiran and Sister Liz Brandon)