by John Prince
Paul Harper from Hornsea who has been collecting money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance for around ten years by displaying his collection of handmade wooden tractors, has surpassed his target of £30,000.
89-year-old Paul, who we featured in the Gazette back in August, started collecting for the life-saving charity in 2016 when he witnessed the air ambulance attending a road traffic collision. Encouraged by his wife to start raising money for them, he initially set himself a goal of £1,000.
Last week Paul received a certificate from the chairman of the YAA Mike Harrop, thanking him for his support and for raising a total – to date – of £30,290.30.
Paul can usually be found outside Hornsea’s Floral Hall most Sundays showing off his models and chatting with passers-by while he collects donations.
He said: “It just started as a hobby, then we saw the accident and I just started collecting money.
“In 2017 I had 21 on my stall. I was at Selby Market and this old chap came up and asked how much are your models? He kept looking at them and said, “I’ll buy them all off you”, and I said you won’t!
“He offered me a hundred pound a piece. That was two thousand one hundred pounds for twenty one of them. But I won’t sell them.”
Paul is sadly losing his eyesight so doesn’t travel as far as he used to. He has made 40 tractor models including rare European and American ones, a unique double one and a modern Case IH Quadtrac 9380 articulated crawler tractor which are all signed underneath.
He has a special trailer that he ferries the tractors around in, as well as other items to sell and use to fundraise.
He added: “There’s Fordsons, Fergusons, David Browns, and Nuffields. People often ask me how I make the wheels.
“I’d like to thank all the people who have donated as it is getting very tight now and people are getting short on money. I also sell Christmas cards, bird boxes and I used to sell tomato plants. It’s all for the air ambulance. I don’t take a penny out of it.
“While I can still walk I’ll keep doing it, and I’ve got my scooter.
“My eyesight’s not so good now but I recognise voices and I wave. I have a laugh and a joke with people so I’m not ignoring them. I’ve got quite a few regulars who come just for a natter.
“I enjoy it. I look forward to it every Sunday now. If it’s raining and I can’t get out, I’m miserable!”
