A GOOD Samaritan got behind the wheel for an epic crossing of Europe to ensure that a son was able to make it to his mother’s 100th birthday party in Coleford on Friday (June 22).

Brian Pritchard, who lives in Bergamo near Milan in northern Italy, had hoped to come home to help his mother, Minnie Pritchard, celebrate her centenary, but he’s unable to fly and an injury meant driving home was out of the question.

Brian’s sister Liz Lloyd-Nash said: “Brian hasn’t been home for four years as he can’t use his left foot and I was discussing how disappointed he was about missing Mum’s party with my neighbour, Tim Deakin.

“Tim owns bodyshop FCBC in Whitecliff and he offered to go and collect Brian and drive him home, which was an amazing offer.”

He flew to Italy with daughter Billie and followed by an 1,800-mile round trip at the wheel of Brian’s Alfa Romeo.

Tim said: “I’m the youngest person in the street, so I put my hand up and said I’d go. I’ve never travelled so far before and I’ve never driven on the right, but my business means I’m used to driving other people’s cars and I soon got the hang of it.

“Minnie has been a a neighbour of mine for a long time, so I wanted to do what I could to help.

“My 13-year-old daughter Billie-Mae, who is in Year Nine at Five Acres High School, flew out to Milan with me and we stayed at Brian’s house.

“We were all due to leave at 6am the following day in Brian’s Alfa Romeo 159, but I didn’t sleep at all that night as it was so hot.

“We then drove for 13 hours, across Switzerland and France, with a three hour detour as we were chatting so much we missed our junction: I had a sat nav on my phone, but the battery died about an hour in to the journey.

“We were heading for a particular hotel that Brian knew, but when we got there at about 6pm, it was empty and up for sale. It took us another hour to find somewhere else, but I slept like a log that night.

“The following day we set off for Calais with croissants and baguettes so that Billie could make our lunch in the back of the car.

“The journey was great until we hit Dover. After perfect roads across Europe, it was nose to tail all the way home. We got in at about 10pm and I popped out to mow the lawn.”

Thanks to Tim, Brian was able to spend time with Minnie, who was born in Kilcot near Newent and has lived in Coleford with her daughter, Liz, since the 1980s.

The family celebrated her birthday with a party at The Coombs Care Home, where Minnie is a resident.

Liz said: “The care home is close to where we live and we had an incredible party on Friday, with probably 50 people visiting either in the morning or the afternoon.

“We’re so grateful to Tim. Brian wouldn’t have made it to the party if it wasn’t for this wonderful gesture.

“I didn’t think people like Tim existed. It just shows that there really are good people in the world.”