Classic tractor to be auctioned to thank hospital

A man has donated his cherished classic tractor to be auctioned to thank a hospital for saving his son's life.

Ed Burdge, now 20, underwent a heart transplant operation at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, when he was 17.

Now fully recovered, his father Michael Burdge, from Bristol, has donated his 1991 Ford 7810 Silver Jubilee model tractor to Cambridge auctioneer Cheffins to raise funds to improve facilities for the hospital's patients and their visitors.

The vehicle is expected to fetch between £25,000 and £30,000 at an online auction next month.

Ed Burdge was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy when he was a teenager and after weeks in hospital trying to stabilise his condition, a heart transplant became his only chance of survival.

He spent three months at Royal Papworth Hospital during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, before receiving a new heart thanks to an organ donor.

"Royal Papworth became my family's whole world," said Michael Burdge.

"We experienced first-hand the incredible care and compassion shown by staff, but we also saw how important the hospital environment is for patients and families facing long stays.

"Having a welcoming space to step away from the bedside, gather your thoughts, spend time together, or simply catch your breath can make an enormous difference during some of life's most challenging moments."

His Ford Silver Jubilee will be auctioned between 2 and 10 November.

Oliver Godfrey, head of machinery sales at Cheffins, said the tractor was a "rare, limited edition".

All proceeds from the sale will support Royal Papworth Hospital Charity's Brighter Spaces, Brighter Futures appeal, which aims to create areas that feel welcoming and comfortable.

Krystyna Grant, managing director of the hospital charity, said the team was "incredibly grateful" to the Burdge family and also to Cheffins who planned to waive both the fees and commission from the sale.

Do you have a story suggestion for Cambridgeshire? Contact us below.

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.