Dozens of vintage tractors and cars took to the country roads of the north-east yesterday in memory of a Strichen man who died of rare disease.
Tractor enthusiast Sandy Thain had amyloidosis – a disease that causes fatigue, weight loss and organ failure – and died last April aged 75.
As a tribute to Mr Thain, a much-loved figure in the north-east village, a local motoring group launched a memorial road run.
Now in its second year, the 2015 event has raised money for the Sandpiper Trust to provide defibrillators for rural north-east Scottish communities.
Last night organiser Jane Ironside said: “The run stopped in the villages to allow members of the public to have a closer look at the vehicles and to donate to this year’s chosen charity.
“Volunteers from the Sandpiper Trust were on hand to give details of their work.”
The tractors and classic cars left the British Legion branch in Strichen at 10.30am yesterday and travelled through White Cow Woods to Maud, New Deer and Cuminestown before returning via Garmond, Balthangie, Bonnykelly and New Pitsligo.
Last year’s inaugural run was organised to raise money in honour of Mr Thain for the National Amyloidosis Centre at University College Hospital in London.
More than 50 vehicles took part in the convoy, and Mrs Ironside said the £4,500 raised would help fund a new MRI machine for the unit.
Mr Thain, a former military police officer and army cadet instructor, had been treated for the disease at the University College Hospital in London – the only centre of its kind in the UK.