Fleet of classic cars prove to be a birthday surprise for 80-year-old

Former civil engineer Roddy Barclay was expecting a low-key get-together with friends and family until ​​Gartcosh Classic and Sports Car Club arrived with a raft of vintage vehicles.

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the cars,” said Roddy. “I couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel of a Wolesley!

“It was certainly a birthday I will remember for a long time to come. It’s been a wonderful day.”

Members of Gartcosh Classic and Sports Car Club at the home (Image: Supplied)

The birthday surprise was organised by Kerry-Anne McDade, wellbeing and lifestyle coach at Newton House Care Home where Roddy lives. She said that since Roddy wanted to attend a classic car show, but couldn’t because of his health, she decided to bring the cars to him.

“We have a ‘wishing well’ in the home,” she said. “Residents can write on a bit of paper a wish that they would like to come true, and it’s my job to make it happen.

“Roddy’s wish was to go to a classic car show. But with his health, it would be very difficult for him to spend all day travelling and being out and about.

“I noticed that it was his 80th birthday coming up, and I thought ‘let’s go one better - we’ll bring the classic car show to Roddy.’”

Classic cars lined up outside Newton House (Image: Supplied)

Kerry-Anne then set about the novel task of organising a vintage car display at the care home last month. 

“I did some research and came across Gartcosh Classic and Sports Car Club,” she said.

“They were more than happy to come and help us out. They do a lot of stuff for charity and fundraising events, and they helped us out completely for free.”

Kerry-Anne McDade, wellbeing and lifestyle coach at Newton House care home (Image: Supplied)

Kerry-Anne said that Roddy couldn’t quite believe that all the cars were there for him.

“I think he was a little bit in disbelief,” she said. “He was a bit taken aback. You could tell he was really appreciative.

“But more appreciative than anyone was his wife, who was crying a little bit. She was so happy that he’d managed to reach this huge milestone, and that we’d done something extremely special for him.

“Everyone sang happy birthday for Roddy, which was so lovely.”

Roddy takes a closer look at his favourite Wolesley (Image: Supplied)

She described Roddy as a “true gentleman” with a razor-sharp wit.

“Roddy’s fantastic,” she said. “He’s so friendly. He’s always willing to chat with you, always cracking jokes. He brings a smile to the faces of everyone he meets. He’s got a wicked sense of humour.

“He really is a gentleman. If anybody deserves something like this, it’s Roddy.”