The Mayor of Wolverhampton showed his daring side when he swapped his comfortable limousine for a three-wheeled mobility scooter during an official engagement in the town.
Councillor Dr Mike Hardacre couldn’t wait to road-test the bright red machine as he officially opened the Move Mobility store in Fallings Park, taking a trip around the estate on the scooter which reaches top speeds of 8mph.
The Mayor and his wife, Mayoress Lynn Plant toured the new showroom before cutting a ribbon to formally open the unit off Park Lane which will supply scooters, rise and recline chairs and electric adjustable beds to people who need assisted living but want to maintain their independence.
Councillor Dr Hardacre revealed he had been a “biker” in his day as he hopped onto the scooter. He then talked to guests including Wolverhampton youngster Jude Aston who has turned a lifetime of living with cerebral palsy into a positive by launching his own podcast.
Jude, a journalism student, recently learned to walk for the first time with a prosthetic leg after a gruelling 13-month spell in hospital.
The Mayor, Councillor Hardacre said: “I have really enjoyed meeting everyone and hearing their stories and I really hope this business prospers as you are supporting so many people in the area.”
CEO of Move Mobility Lee Hosking thanked the Mayor for attending and said: “This is our fourth shop now across the country and we are very excited about the prospect of this unit.”
The new store has already created four jobs in the area and is a proud member of the British Furniture Manufacturers Association, selling many British products including its’ adjustable beds which are built in Kingswinford.
The business also works closely with the Wolverhampton branch of the British Heart Foundation to recycle customer’s old furniture as part of a sustainability strategy.