On Friday, 1st December, several members of the Bridge Classic Cars team made a very special journey, visiting four local care homes to bring joy and festive cheer to residents and staff alike.

Recognising that not everyone can be with their families over Christmas, Bridge Classic Cars created the Mince Pie Drive as a means to spread some joy and Christmas spirit to those who might be apart from their loved ones. Classic cars can spark memories and nostalgia, both of which are especially welcome at this time of the year.

Setting off from their Pettistree-based workshop, the team drove a convoy of classic and interesting vehicles to each care home, providing an opportunity for residents and staff to admire these eye-catching cars up close. The sight of these arriving and parking up outside each care home lit up the faces of everyone present. The convoy included a 1970 Lotus Europa, a 1968 Morris 1000 Pickup as well as a more modern 2015 Jaguar F-Type.

However, the visit wasn’t just about cars. Bridge Classic Cars also brought along a special treat – delicious mince pies, kindly donated by The Bakehouse Bakery in Woodbridge – for the residents and staff to enjoy. This gesture aimed to bring some festive joy to those who might be feeling the absence of their previous Christmas celebrations.

The team at Bridge Classic Cars looks forward to continuing their commitment to community engagement and hopes that the Mince Pie Drive has triggered a range of holiday cheer projects that extends far beyond their care home visits.

You can watch a video of the full day here.

Lily Griffiths, Marketing Executive and organiser of the Mince Pie Drive:

“It was such a delight to bring the nostalgia to the residents along with tasty mince pies and festive cheer.”

Nick Skinner, Marketing Executive and videographer for the event:

“It was massively rewarding to bring these classics to people in care around Suffolk. It’s a connection to the past which due to location or situation they may not be able to see that often. Around this time of year especially, it’s the time not just for giving but also giving back to local communities and that’s what Lily has done with her Mince Pie Drive.”

Craig Ranson, Managing Director, Bridge Classic Cars:

"Making the Christmas season brighter for our community is very important to us. The Mince Pie Drive was our way of spreading some cheer and making new friends. Those smiles and shared moments are what make these experiences so amazing for us."

Rob Harvey, Marketing Manager, Bridge Classic Cars:

”Seeing the residents and staff of the care homes enjoying the cars and mince pies was such an enjoyable experience. I hope they enjoyed it as much as we did and we’d love to make the Mince Pie Drive even bigger next year.”

Photo credits: Bridge Classic Cars