[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” css=”.vc_custom_1563541714106{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1563541563014{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1563541663973{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Horns honking, lights flashing, a convoy of 66 Fenland tractors take to the roads for #ClapForCarers
When Antonia, the Head of Communications at Magpas Air Ambulance, witnessed an incredibly unique procession last night, she felt she had to share it with you! Antonia describes…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1579007526422{background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][sc_youtube video_id=”tKGTAOLesvA”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1563541663973{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1590754129781{background-image: url(https://magpas.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Tractor-4-e1590754094149.jpg?id=26050) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]When I first heard a group of Fenland farmers would be taking some tractors out around Doddington, Wimblington and March, as an honorary nod to #ClapForCarers and their local key workers, I didn’t fully appreciate how much of a visual spectacular it would be!
I spoke to chief organiser Tim, a farmer from Doddington, who explained, “Tonight’s going to be BIG Antonia! We’ve got a lot of tractors taking part, we’re expecting around 50 to turn up and we’re talking 19 tonnes a piece in some cases.” Tim described how the local farming community truly relies on the critical care Magpas Air Ambulance provides. As he put it, “If we end up in an accident with a tractor in a field, we’re properly injured and we need your air ambulance with your medical team and their hospital care fast – so it makes sense to fundraise for you as part of tonight.” Randomly, I then found out from Tim that he’d be leading the procession down our road later that night, so I said I’d look forward to seeing them all later.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1563541663973{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]At 8pm, my fiancé and I took part in the neighbourhood Clap for Carers, on our doorstep, and waited for the agricultural troops to arrive! Time started ticking on and the evening light began to fade. Word had clearly spread about the procession, because lots of other people were also waiting outside their houses…then we all heard the sound of horns honking in the distance. It was dusk (around 9:35pm) by the time they finally reached us – and what a sight. It was perfect timing to show off a sea of flashing lights, with an army of huge (old and new) farming vehicles; all lit up like a night time carnival! The convoy seemed endless, with 66 tractors of all sizes thundering down the road. It was brilliant and – quite rightly – had attracted a large audience with families, kids in onesies and the older generations sat in their front gardens all watching in awe; applauding and cheering as the tractor salute passed by.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1590754202054{background-image: url(https://magpas.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Tractor-6-e1590754171515.jpg?id=26052) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner equal_height=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1563541663973{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1590753303089{background-image: url(https://magpas.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Tractor-5.jpg?id=26051) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]En route, the agricultural fleet even made sure they passed one local man’s house, who was getting ready to celebrate his 100th birthday today…
Thank you to Tim and the local farming community in and around Doddington for making such an incredible effort with last night’s #ClapForCarers procession and for raising money for us, the local air ambulance for their community. Special thanks to Rob Morris for his photography. The Magpas medical team continue to work on the frontline, 24/7. As a charity, we need you now more than ever. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_btn title=”Donate Now” color=”green” size=”lg” align=”center” button_block=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fdonate.magpas.org.uk%2F|||”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
