Telford International Centre – 27th – 29th June
22 May 2013 – Telford’s longest-serving town crier will provide an historic welcome visitors to this year’s national Mobility Roadshow 2013, celebrating its 30th Anniversary at the Telford International Centre.
At 90 years, Percy Simmonds is the UK’s oldest known town crier and a classic ‘act’. Only last year he swapped his motorbike for a mobility scooter, but continues to drive. Percy is looking forward to the Roadshow and exploring all the latest innovations to aid mobility. His advice to everyone contemplating how to remain active in advanced years is: ”If there are mobility aids available, use them”!
Among the special guests visiting during the show on Thursday 27th is Falkland’s war veteran, Simon Weston, a good friend of the Roadshow over the years.
From the amazing UK Paralympic Games and visiting on Friday 28th is sitting volleyball player Martine Wright, winner of the BBC Helen Rollason Award seven years after surviving the 7/7 bombings. And on Saturday 29th visitors can meet Paralympian cyclist Rik Waddon who has gained a long list of awards over the years including London 2012 Paralympic Games Team Sprint Silver Medallist and has recently won the Rudy Project, one of the first steps going forward for his Road to Rio 2016 campaign.
Dave Sykes, award-winning paraplegic microlight pilot and adventurer will be with the charity Aerobility talking about his record breaking solo flight from England to Australia and his subsequent book. The Red Wheelies scooter formation display team, which holds the Guinness World Record for ‘the greatest distance covered in 24hrs by motorised wheelchair or mobility scooter’ will be performing each day.
As well as the vast showcase of everything to aid mobility and independent living and the opportunity to test drive the latest cars fitted with adaptations – for which this annual free event is renowned -there will be activities for all the family throughout the show. Over the years Saturday has become family day so as well as games and the giant climbing wall in the Sports Arena – where visitors can join in with members of the men’s and women’s GB Wheelchair Basketball teams – in the Activity Zone you’ll find lots to do for all ages. Have fun with giant Scalextric, remote-control cars, a wheel-up race car simulator, basketball challenge, a giant digital graffiti art wall as well as several vintage and specialist car displays throughout the exhibition. Take in a photocall with our Roadshow Stig, float above the clouds with Aerobility’s flight simulator and admire the skill of the Mouth and Foot painters.
Visitors on Thursday will be entertained by a Caribbean three-piece steel band and the Roadshow’s roving stilt walking juggler/magician is back by popular demand.
Celebrating its 30th Anniversary – and being held at Telford for the first time – the Mobility Roadshow is the UK’s premier consumer mobility event, attracting thousands of visitors from across the UK, Europe and beyond. For many it is an annual pilgrimage to explore, try out and compare everything, both new and classic, to aid mobility.
Register at www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk for free tickets, test drives and to keep abreast of news as it unfolds. Follow Facebook and Twitter @MobilityRdShow #mobilityroadshow
Ends
Editorial contact for more information, interviews and pictures:
Rosemary Vaux at Mobility Roadshow press office
tel 020 8943 5343 mobile 07792 72 62 41
email pressoffice@mobilityroadshow.co.uk