| Dorset’s
Tank Museum played a starring role in this year’s
Lord Mayors Show, wowing the crowds who lined the route
of this historic annual parade.
The Dorset charity was a prominent feature in the live
coverage, which saw BBC presenter Claire Balding
hitch a ride on the Museums 62 tonne Challenger 1 tank.
Museum spokesman Nik Wyness said; “The crowds really
weren’t expecting to see such a large tank in the
City – and it was quite amusing to see the reactions
we received.
“The Lord Mayors parade is traditionally
a somewhat refined affair – so you can imagine
how our tank drew a lot of attention to itself!”
The Challenger 1 tank, a veteran of Operation
Desert Storm in 1991 is normally found on display
in The Museum. For the occasion, it was manned
by some of its original Gulf War crew, who have all
since retired from the army.
Tank commander General Arthur Denaro, who
is now an equerry for Prince Charles said; “It
was a tremendous occasion. Riding a tank through London
isn’t the first thing you think of doing –
and it was fantastic to be reunited with some of
my old crew and our tank.”
Nik Wyness said; “Driving a tank around London
requires a lot of skill and care. There are plenty
of obstacles for a vehicle this size – such as
tight bends, railings and lampposts but our drivers
managed to negotiate them all.
“But that’s not what one radio station
in London thought. Bizarrely, there is a rumour going
around London that we flattened a set of traffic lights
and caused all sorts of havoc! When we told them what
really happened they were quite disappointed!”
ENDS
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![[image] News Section](images/header.jpg)
![[image] The Challenger Tank makes its way through the crowds.](images/hiquality-images/lordmayorsshow_nov04.jpg)
