18/07/2025
FRASER DRUMMOND # PRESS RELEASE #
Well now… Calne and the surrounding area (“SN11” – Remember that!!!)
You’ve truly outdone yourselves.
To say I’m proud is an understatement. I genuinely had no idea the level of support and response would be as incredible as it was. Thanks to your overwhelming generosity, we not only achieved our goal but did so, well ahead of schedule and in plenty of time for the 25th Anniversary Calne Town Bike Meet.
Honestly, I’d have been happy with a loaner paintbrush and a bag of crisps — but the support you all offered went far beyond anything I could have imagined. so, thank you everyone.
Special thanks go to:
Jay Bullock (JB Gardening Services) & Calum Taylor (Ninja Strimmer) – for clearing the area around the base and tackling those vicious jaggy nettles.
Paul Bunney & Jamie Knee for jet blasting away 12 years of grime, dirt, and bird gifts!
Craig Crisofoli, Huws Gray/Buildbase Builders Merchants – for supplying the aggregate to fill the base frame.
Stephen Jeary and his landscaper crew, Jamie & Dan, Valley View Fencing & Landscaping - for moving a considerable number of “scoops” of gravel into the bike’s base frame.
Mark Robbins from Chalford Building Supplies – for generously providing the high-quality Hammerite paint.
Mitch Clarke from Buy Paints Direct Ltd – for his quality expert advice, primers, and the perfectly colour-matched Benjamin Moore livery paint.
Odette Drummond – of Odette Funeral Director, who kindly provided all PPE, brushes, cleaning gear, facemasks, and those stylish Roober Glooves.
My Fantastic Decorators –
Daniel Payne, Sian Lilly-Powell, John Murphy, Peter Jones, Mike Blanchard,
Alex Bulia, Rich Clarke, & Mike Pointer - For spilling a lot of paint and missing bits.
Tom Salter and his valiant roofing crew from TES Roofing Ltd, Theo Whittaker, Ryal Tyrell & Jason Bull – for their time and excellent work painting the bike.
Ann Heron & Bethany Fruci – The most wonderful and kindest of ladies (Ann & Beff’s Butties) for keeping the team well-fed with sarnies.
Tim Chapman and Lisa McCulloch – Tesco, who kept the caffeine and water flowing.
Tom Lapham, Keeper of the Gate – for his help and support throughout the project.
Phil Haines (Haines Construction) – For giving us full access to the field and trimming the hedge.
Passers-by - Thanks to all the “hooters & tooters”. Sorry if we seemed to ignore you but you actually were appreciated.
I apologise if I have left anyone out. The memory isn’t the same as it once was.
Last and by no means least…Toby Welsby (Sculptor) – For his kind permission in allowing us to play with his bike.
And to everyone else who offered their time, services, or even just shared words of encouragement — thank you. Sadly, we couldn’t accept every offer (the field just wasn’t big enough!), but your support meant the world.
We even made the BBC News and Radio Wiltshire! (Apparently, I have the ideal face for radio!!)
Out of the hundreds of posts received, only one Troll made comment from behind his keyboard. Thank you for your support, Chris.
Lou Maitland-Hudson – the offer still stands for that spin on the BMer!
What started as an idea on 1st July, here we are now, just 18 days later, with a bike fully restored back to showroom condition.
I hope you all take a moment to slow down when passing by and admire Calne’s beautifully restored 1950s Royal Enfield Super Meteor — as confirmed by Charlie Notton, Chairman of the Wiltshire Branch of the Royal Enfield Owners' Club.
You’ll be pleased to know she passed her MOT with flying colours — no advisories!
Toby Welsby - Sculptor / scaffolder 2013
THE BUSINESSES
Jay Bullock - JB Gardening Services
Calum Taylor - Ninja strimmer
Paul Bunney & Jamie Knee – Powerwash Contractors Ltd
Tom Salter, Theo Whittaker, Ryal Tyrell & Jason Bull - TES Roofing Ltd
Mark Robbins - Chalford Building Supplies
Mitch Clarke - BuyPaintsDirect
Craig Cristofoli - Huws Gray/Buildbase
Steve Jeary, Jamie & Dan - Valley View Fencing & Landscaping
Odette Drummond – Odette Funeral Director
Tim Chapman/Lisa McCulloch - Tesco
Tom Lapham – Keeper of the Gate
Phil Haines - Haines Construction/Landowner
Ann Heron & Bethany Fruci - Ann & Beth’s Butties
THE HELPERS
Dan Payne
John Murphy
Mike Blanchard
Sian Lilly-Powell
Peter Jones
Alex Bulia
Rich Clarke
Mike Pointer
PROJECT MANAGER
Fraser Drummond
