This is the story of The Crossland family and our GBS Zero. Sadly, our story starts on a very sad note. In January 2019, our Dad was diagnosed with terminal kidney cancer. By the time it was diagnosed, it was too late to treat. However, as a family we all saw how it never broke his spirit and, in reality, actually cemented his strength, positivity and love of life. The following story should illustrate how true that is.
The early stages of cancer involve rest and extensive periods of realisation. For Dad, that meant time talking to family, processing his diagnosis and switching off by watching TV. Of the many series Dad watched, one episode of The Grand Tour stood out - where the team went to Mongolia and build a kit car. As the kit car raced across various obstacles, Dad became inspired to start another adventure. From that moment Dad decided he wanted to buy a kit car; and it took very little to persuade his sons James and Andrew to join in.
Within a month we had selected a car - a Zero by Great British Sports Cars who are based in the nearby town of Ollerton, Nottinghamshire. We took Dad to visit the factory and knew immediately that this was the place to get that dream car. Steve and Richard showed us around the factory, introduced us to the team and where the car would be built. Driving away from the factory we quickly decided that we wanted to work with GBS who, like The Crossland’s, are a family at heart.
Throughout the build of the car, GBS worked with us on all of details of the build and design. Numerous calls and emails followed. As we toured various hospitals and met with various consultants, Dad was involved. Sadly, Dad’s medical condition deteriorated and he passed away in July - leaving a devastated family but one strangely motivated and empowered by the attitude Dad took to his life. It’s worth saying how he never once complained about being diagnosed. For Dad it was part of his life and the path weaved for him. Ahead of him lay obstacles and targets, just like life always had. A major target was James’s birthday - and a speech that, typical of Dad, left us all crying and laughing. Treatment was a path to be walked. Hurry on Sundown, see what tomorrow brings. Life’s for living. We took every day step by step as a family and as close as we always had been.
James and I were fortunate to have that closeness throughout our upbringing. One of our earliest memories is standing on a grass bank in Retford watching a beautiful blue steam train on the East Coast Mainline. James, Dad, Grandad, our Great Grandfather and myself all worked on the railways and we grew up exploring our great country or visiting friends by train - initially on a free rail pass as part of Dad’s job. Trips to York with friends, girlfriends and family didn’t feel right without a trip to the National Railway Museum. In each trip came a seminal moment; walking up to Mallard. The locomotive was designed by Nigel Gresley and built opposite Dad’s office in Gresley House. Synonymous with an age of speed, Mallard became the world’s fastest running at 126mph in 1939. That record still stands today.
