E-Z-GO vehicle deployed on Brownsea Island in Poole harbour

When the Friends of Guiding, Brownsea Island and the Brownsea Island Scout Active Support Unit wanted an alternative vehicle for transporting equipment, goods and less able scouts and guides across the island to the original experimental campsite established by Baden Powell in 1907, they turned to E-Z-GO for help.

Mary Rousell, chair of Friends of Guiding Brownsea Island, was the driving force behind the acquisition of the vehicle and spurred on by the 2010 centenary of Guiding, she contacted Chris Buckle, E-Z-GO’s regional sales manager for UK and Ireland.

Explaining how the vehicle was procured she commented, “At the campsite we have a purpose-built Heritage Centre and Trading Post, which attracts thousands of visitors, old and young, each year from all around the world. The campsite and associated amenities are a good mile away from the ferry jetty and for the less able scouts, guides and volunteers, it’s quite a walk. We also have to get goods and supplies to the Trading Post and were constantly tying up the National Trust’s ageing Landrovers.

“Ideally, we wanted an electric vehicle – for environmental and other considerations – but had great difficulty getting funding for the £4,000 that was originally needed. We approached various local organisations and charitable trusts, but to no avail. However, once Chris became involved, he sourced a second hand golf buggy in excellent condition from our local dealer, Motorculture and provided all the equipment to transform it into a bespoke vehicle that ideally suited our needs.”

The golf buggy was converted at Golf Buggy Bitz’s workshop near Christchurch into a four-person transport vehicle with load carrying capacity. This was achieved by jacking up the suspension to improve ground clearance for a wooded environment, replacing the turf tyres with rugged all terrain tyres and adding two rear facing folding seats that convert into a load carrying platform.

“We were extremely grateful when the Dorset Masons and the Society of Dorset Men each contributed £500, the Utility Warehouse who donated £300 and the remaining £600 came from Friends of Guiding Brownsea Island and Brownsea Island Scout Active Support Unit,” Mary Rousell added.

“With the support of Chris and E-Z-GO we got our vehicle for around £2,000, half the original estimate, and we can’t thank him enough, and all the other organisations that have helped us. It has transformed the way we work and has eased the burden on Trevor Warwick, the National Trust’s warden for Baden-Powell Outdoor Activity Centre, and his team, as we are no longer regularly loaning his vehicles,” 

For more information about E-Z-GO products visit: www.ransomesjacobsen.com