Mini adventure for Hull customer drives charity donations

The owner of a business based at our Chamberlain Business Centre in Hull has completed an epic 4,000 mile drive around Europe to raise money for charity.

Peter Houldridge and his son, Christopher, spent months ‘gearing up’ for the Italian Job Mini Car Rally, which saw them join a convoy of 23 other Mini owners driving through France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, the Alps, Switzerland and Italy, raising funds for Variety, the Children’s Charity.

Peter owns established companies Complete Hire Services and Complete Diamond Drilling Services, which both have storage units at Chamberlain Business Centre. Complete Diamond Drilling Services has been based at the centre since the summer, when, due to business growth, it no longer had the space it required at its previous location.

Quality time

Peter decided to take part in a road trip to spend quality time with his son, as well as helping support worthwhile causes. The pair had worked together in the family business for 16 years, but Christopher recently left to start his own company.

“I’d bought a classic Mini earlier last year and we had spent months doing it up at our unit in Bizspace,” Peter says.

“Unfortunately just a couple of days before we were due to leave for our fortnight away, it developed engine problems and wouldn’t be able to be fixed in time. I’d resigned myself to having to buy another Mini that we could travel in, but as luck would have it, when I called into Harvey Bloom Cars and explained the situation, they came to our rescue and offered us the loan of a Mini off their forecourt, which was fantastic.”

Peter and Christopher set off from Dover and drove around 300 miles each day on their tour, stopping at pre-organised hotels. In Rome they stopped to drop off gifts of sensory toys to Lega del Filo D’Oro, which helps deafblind children communicate with the outside world, and were given a police escort as they toured the ancient city’s sights, including driving around the Colosseum on roads which are normally closed to the public.

Landmark locations

In Turin the group again were given a police escort as they drove through locations made famous in the 1969 Italian Job film. These included the roof of a Fiat garage, inside a shopping centre, through a weir and at a mansion owned by one of the queens of Belgium.

“The whole trip was an incredible experience and a good time was had by all,” Peter says.

“The highlight was probably the people who we met, as they made it such an enjoyable experience. The sights were amazing as well, particularly driving over the Alps, which was so picturesque. We would recommend an experience like this to anyone.”

Peter and Christopher hope to raise at least £1,500 for Variety through their trip. They have an online donation page set up if you would like to make a contribution.

Flexible workspace

Our Chamberlain Business Centre offers a wide selection of business space for companies needing offices, workshops, industrial units or storage space – all available on the flexible terms which Bizspace is famous for.

The business centre benefits from secure, gated car parking facilities which can be accessed 24 hours a day.  There is also an on-site café and a recently refurbished break out area where customers can chat or take a break.

For more information contact Business Centre Manager Gillian Stockdale on 01482 214 770.