THE flags were flying in Devizes on Tuesday as Lions club president Roger Stratton set out in his Frogeye Sprite on a trip of a lifetime that will raise money for charity.

Mr Stratton and his friend Bill Ritson set out from Devizes Market Place at 9.30am from outside The Bear and were flagged off by Peter Healey the grandson of Donald Healey, who was the designer and man behind so many great British sports cars including the Sprite.

Peter Healey is a volunteer gardener at Dorothy House hospice in Winsley and part of the money raised by the trip will go to support the charity. Cash will go to a fund set up in memory of Helen Straker which supports both Dorothy House hospice at Winsley and the Forever Friends appeal at the Royal United Hospital. Funds will also go to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance base appeal.

Mr Healey said: “I am delighted to be supporting Roger and Bill in their adventure, which in such a small and nearly 60 year old car is no small undertaking. The Healey Sprite was always a favourite of my grandfather.

"I am sure that despite the cars age, Roger and Bill will have a memorable journey, and hopefully free of any breakdowns."

From Devizes the intrepid twosome will drive to John O'Groats and then south to Lands End to complete what they are calling the JOGLE."

Their Sprite dating from 1959, which is known as OSKAR because of its OSK 800 numberplate, was not designed for comfort. Mr Stratton said:

Mr Stratton said: "For such a small car, this is a very long and difficult trip.

"For the humans, there are few creature comforts. The hood will be stowed away as much as possible, there is no heater, and no seatbelts or airbags. Motoring in OSKAR takes you back to an earlier era.

"In OSKAR’s day, motorways and dual carriageways were rare in the UK, so we shall be following a route avoiding them as far as possible. "In 1959, the original Severn Bridge was still seven years away from being completed. We are really looking forward to meeting other classic cars along the way, and for help from other Lions Clubs, too."

A highlight of the journey will be when OSKAR crosses the Bristol suspension bridge in a convoy of 20 other classic and vintage cars next week. Mr Stratton expects to be back in Devizes on September 15 and arrive during a charity clay pigeon shoot in aid of the Helen Straker Charity at Gordon Straker's home in Potterne.