In Memory of Lloyd Garnham – Driving for a Cause Close to His Heart

Next March, I will be taking part in the Rust Box Rally – NC500 (https://rustboxrallies.co.uk/nc500/), a 500-mile road trip through the breathtaking Scottish Highlands, often described as “Scotland’s Route 66.” The route, which begins and ends in Inverness, winds through some of the most remote and dramatic landscapes in the country – a dream drive for any classic car enthusiast.

Originally, this journey was one I had planned to share with one of my closest friends, Lloyd Garnham. Lloyd and I were both born in 1972 and had known each other since our school days. We were both confirmed petrolheads, and the Rust Box Rally was to be our next great adventure – two old friends in a battered car, raising money for a cause close to Lloyd’s heart.

The car we chose was a Vauxhall Omega – well-worn, but with the help of Harvey Wash (https://harveywashltd.co.uk/) we had started restoring it to resemble an old British police vehicle. It was all very tongue-in-cheek, complete with roof bars and blue flashing lights (strictly for private land use, of course). It was a project we had named PLOD Patrol full of laughter and mischief – exactly as Lloyd would have wanted.

But in July this year, everything changed. Lloyd was tragically killed in a road traffic accident while driving home through Romania. His sudden and devastating death left an enormous hole in so many lives. He leaves behind his beloved husband, Paul, and their two young sons, Matthew (9) and Charlie (11).

In the weeks that followed, I couldn’t face finishing the car. I came very close to pulling out of the rally altogether. The thought of doing it without Lloyd was too painful, too raw. It simply didn’t feel right.

Then, this weekend just gone, young Matthew quietly asked me, “When will your and Daddy Lloyd’s police car be ready? I want to switch on the flashing lights.”

And in that moment, I knew I had to finish what Lloyd and I started.

My partner Andy will now be joining me on the rally, and together we will complete the journey in Lloyd’s memory – not only to honour the man, but to support the charity he believed in.

We are raising money for Success After Stroke, a small Suffolk-based charity that helps individuals rebuild their lives after stroke. The cause was close to Lloyd’s heart, having supported his father following a serious stroke last year.

Our target is to raise £750 – enough to make a meaningful difference through therapy, support, and community rehabilitation for those who need it most.

If you can, please donate. Do it for stroke survivors. Do it in memory of Lloyd. And if nothing else, do it so that one small boy gets to sit in the driver’s seat and switch on the flashing lights – just like he said.

Thank you for your support.

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