Home   News   Article

Buckie vaccine drive clocks up 10,000 miles


By Alan Beresford

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

VOLUNTEER drivers in Buckie have clocked up an incredible 10,000 miles helping people in the area get to their vaccination appointments.

Record breaker...Lynn Fleming (left) and driver Alan Reid are joined by Jordan Legge from Regency Car Sales after they broke the 10,000-mile barrier. Picture: Regency Car Sales
Record breaker...Lynn Fleming (left) and driver Alan Reid are joined by Jordan Legge from Regency Car Sales after they broke the 10,000-mile barrier. Picture: Regency Car Sales

At the end of February supply issues with the Covid vaccines meant that Buckie area vaccination centres were temporarily closed, with people being given appointments in Elgin and Macduff to get their jab. For those without their own transport, this brought various accessibility issues.

However, up stepped Buckie businessman Charles Milne, the owner of a number of car dealerships including Moravian Motors and Regency Car Sales in the town, who made 52 cars from his fleet available to help those who would have trouble making it to vaccination centres.

Now, after six weeks of continuous running to Macduff and Elgin, the vehicles and their volunteer drivers have have clocked up an amazing 10,000 miles on the fleet of vehicles.

Breaking the five-figure mileage barrier during last week was Lynn Fleming, who was driven to get her jab by Alan Reid.

Mr Milne went on to praise the volunteers and the others in the team involved in organising the scheme.

He said: “Jordon Legge at Regency Car Sales has been kept busy organising the vehicles and allocating the volunteer drivers.

“Fifty-one different drivers have been used to-date and the response and help offered has been unbelievable.

“The volunteers have been so helpful in making the process work.

“Jordon takes the call, allocates the vehicle, contacts the volunteer driver, confirms all with the passenger and then gives them a courtesy call the next day to make sure all is well.”

This is the second time Mr Milne has offered the use of his fleet during the last year.

Early in the phase 1 lockdown last March, although Moravian and Regency had to close their doors to customers a service remained in place to carry out vehicle checks and repairs on key workers' vehicles so they can continue to make their invaluable contributions to the fight against the coronavirus.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More