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Rallying from Lands End to John O'Groats to fundraise for MIND
Wednesday, 1 December, 2021 — Head of School of Design + Communication Peter Barker is raising money for SOLENT MIND, in memory of his late niece Ruby Leaity
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.plymouthart.ac.uk/people/peter-barker">Peter Barker</a>, Head of the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/about-us/school-of-design-communication">School of Design + Communication</a> at Plymouth College of Art, is getting ready to drive a specially prepared 1968 Triumph 2000 from Lands End to John O'Groats, to honour the memory of his late niece, Ruby Leaity, by <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/vyfdn2-rallying-for-ruby" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fundraising for SOLENT MIND</a>, the Southampton branch of mental health charity MIND.<br /></p>
Peter Barker's niece Ruby
<p dir="ltr">Peter said: “Ruby took her own life on 23 July last year, at the age of 23. Those who knew Ruby will remember how generous, kind, clever, beautiful and hysterically funny she was. Despite struggling with her mental health all of her short adult life, she was a support and inspiration to so many people. She truly was the best of her family. Her sisters, her nieces, her partner Jess, her parents, extended family and friends all miss her terribly.”<br /></p>
1968 Triumph 2000
<p dir="ltr">Travelling between 3 and 8 December 2021 in <a href="https://heroevents.eu/event-schedule/le-jog-2021/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Le Jog</a>, a competitive trial for classic and vintage cars, Peter and his co-driver, experienced navigator Rolf Pellini, will be travelling the 1500 miles of prescribed route, mainly on minor roads at a fixed speed and to an exact timetable. The journey is expected to take place over four days and two nights, with the pair stopping for rest only at Chester and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Peter and Rolf previously completed Le Jog in 2019<br /></p>
Peter Barker
<p dir="ltr">Alongside his work overseeing a wide range of study specialisms at Plymouth College of Art, Peter is a journalist and writer with forty years of experience of owning, driving, rallying and writing about Mini Coopers. An editorial contributor to MiniWorld magazine for fifteen years, original member of the Mini Cooper Register and contributor to the MCR club magazine since 1990, he recently released a book celebrating the history and design of the Mini Cooper on its 60th birthday. Peter’s love of classic cars and rally driving is well known to students and colleagues at Plymouth College of Art.<br /></p>