TV personality Jodie Kidd has stepped in to support fifteen sailors from the Royal Navy’s future Flagship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, at London’s Guildhall today.
The team had cycled their way from Edinburgh to London, raising in excess of £4,000 for The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
The 20-strong cycle team set off from Edinburgh Castle on Saturday morning and, after covering 500 miles in just five days, was cheered across the finish line outside Guildhall by their supporters, including the Lord Mayor of London Alderman Alan Yarrow.
Kidd drove a bespoke Team Sky Jaguar F-TYPE Coupé support vehicle to give them a final boost to cross the finish line in full strength. The F-TYPE Coupé acted as a high performance support vehicle for Team Sky during the 2014 Tour De France.
Kidd, who is no stranger to driving Jaguar cars, said: “It was a privilege to drive the Team Sky Jaguar F-TYPE Coupé and accompany the guys to the finish line. They have worked really hard over the past few days and raised a lot of money for their charity.”
Captain Simon Petitt, Senior Naval Officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, said: “It has been a remarkable challenge to cycle between the two affiliated cities of HMS Queen Elizabeth, Edinburgh and London, for The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity
“I’m really delighted that we have done it, we have achieved it and all of us have got back in pretty much one piece.”
Robert Robson, CEO of The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, said: “The Charity exists to make a difference to the lives of sailors, marines and their families. These guys have made a huge difference to the Charity by doing what they have done and I am hugely impressed. Well done to them all!”
The future aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, are currently being built in Rosyth.
