Mayor completes 2,000-mile Europe run in Reliant Robin

A mayor has completed a 2,000‑mile tour of Europe to visit three of his borough's twinned towns in France and Germany, all in a Reliant Robin car.

Erewash Borough councillor Harry Atkinson, who became one of the country's youngest mayors at the age of 25, set off from Derbyshire on 10 April with three friends, including Matt Micklewright, who owns the 34-year-old blue vehicle.

Over the 10‑day trip, the mayor visited Romorantin‑Lanthenay in France and Langen in Germany, twinned with Long Eaton, as well as Châlons‑en‑Champagne in France, twinned with Ilkeston.

The journey also raised £1,700 towards a new scout hut in Sawley and to support a community radio station.

"She didn't let us down. It was a brilliant way to boost relations with our twin towns," said Atkinson.

Many will associate Reliants with Only Fools and Horses, but Del Boy's famous three-wheeled yellow van was a Reliant Regal.

Atkinson said he hoped the trot around the continent would trigger more interest and boost links with the European towns twinned with Long Eaton and Ilkeston.

Throughout the first leg of the trip from Ilkeston Town Hall to northern France, Atkinson said the vehicle nearly overheated and was pulled over by French police.

"We had a great run towards Paris but hit some snags driving through the suburbs," he said.

"The heavy traffic and warm weather had the Robin close to overheating but we were able to find some open roads eventually to cool it down.

"We also had a quick run in with the police but we think they were more curious than anything else. They checked our documents and then wished us a good trip."

Day three of the trip saw Atkinson meet up with the Mayor of Romorantin-Lanthenay, Louis de Redon, where they discussed Long Eaton's shared textile heritage.

"Days like this show what twinning is all about: friendship, history, and looking to the future together", said Atkinson.

Day five of the trip saw the Robin arrive in Ilkeston's twinned town of Châlons‑en‑Champagne, which is also twinned with towns in Canada, Bulgaria and Burkina Faso in Africa.

"The town's twinning committee, which visits Ilkeston every other year, does a fantastic job of maintaining these relationships," said Atkinson.

The only hiccup of the trip came on day seven, when Atkinson turned up at Germany's Nurburgring aiming to become the first to do a lap of the racetrack in a Robin.

Having pre-booked a slot to join an array of supercars, they found out the car was not allowed on the track because it only had three wheels.

The Robin's final stop of the trip saw Atkinson arrive in Long Eaton's other twinned town of Langen in Germany.

"I was very pleased to meet Langen's mayor again, who visited Long Eaton last year," said Atkinson.

Erewash's mayor then toured Langen Town Hall and learnt about its history and tested the local apple wine.

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