Sherlock Enters the Jet Age for Charity

Cause UK worked with British Airways and Leeds Bradford airport to help raise funds and profile for the Yorkshire Brain Research Centre. SHERLOCK HOLMES ENTERS THE JET AGE FOR CHARITY…

Cause UK worked with British Airways and Leeds Bradford airport to help raise funds and profile for the Yorkshire Brain Research Centre.

SHERLOCK HOLMES ENTERS THE JET AGE FOR CHARITY

Back when Sherlock Holmes was a lad jet air travel was unheard of and Yorkshire’s famous son had to travel up and down to London by much slower means.

According to his creator, author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the fictional detective was born in Yorkshire in 1854 and during his adult life he regularly commuted from his home at 221B Baker Street, London by steam train.

Now 160 years on Sherlock Holmes is making that journey to London once again – this time on a modern British Airways Airbus A319 from Leeds Bradford Airport to help raise funds for the Yorkshire Brain Research Centre.

The charity is making a Guinness World Record attempt for the most people dressed as Sherlock Holmes’s in a single place – Temple Newsam, Leeds – on August 31.  They are hoping to attract over 2,000 fundraisers, complete with pipes and deerstalker hats, to smash the record and raise much needed funds for brain research.

The campaign was launched today (June 25) on a British Airways aircraft at Leeds Bradford Airport when airline and airport staff and crew wore deerstalkers to take a “selfie” of themselves promoting the record attempt.

Fundraisers are being asked to post their own “selfies” – in Sherlock Holmes’ dress – on social media sites with the hashtag #SherlockSelfie ahead of the world record attempt. The best one will win return British Airways flights to London, a night at the five star Royal Horseguards in a river view executive room with breakfast and a visit to the Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street.

Simon Lea, British Airways’ airport manager at Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “We are delighted to show our support for such a great cause and it’s a great way to showcase the modern air links between Yorkshire and London. Sherlock Holmes would certainly find it a lot easier commuting these days!”

Clair Challenor-Chadwick, appeal director for the Yorkshire Brain Research Centre and director of Cause UK, said: “Sherlock Holmes was considered to be one of the brainiest detectives so we felt we had a natural affinity with him.  To celebrate his Yorkshire and London connections we are delighted that British Airways and Leeds Bradford Airport are supporting our world record attempt.”

Picture captions:

Captain Spencer Tavares and first officer Richard O’Brien launch the Sherlock ”selfie” world record attempt with Tony Hallwood, Leeds Bradford Airport aviation development and marketing director on the flight deck of the Leeds Bradford-London aircraft

Pictured launching their own world record “selfie” are: (left-right): Tony Hallwood, Leeds Bradford Airport aviation development and marketing director, Lucy Jayne Pattinson, British Airways’ customer service agent and Jim Keegan, British Airways’ regional customer service manager UK regions & Ireland,

Notes to editors:

  • Back in Sherlock Holmes’ day the steam train journey from Yorkshire to London would have taken many hours and only First Class passengers were actually in enclosed carriages the rest used outdoor seats exposed to the elements
  • Today customers can travel in comfort on the three-a-day British Airways flights from Leeds Bradford to London. The journey takes just 60 minutes and one way hand baggage only fares are available from £51 on www.ba.com
  • British Airways is offering two nights at the 5* Royal Horseguards Hotel from £318 per person, based on two people sharing, departing July 25. The offer includes return flights from Leeds Bradford to Heathrow and room only accommodation.
  • The event on August 31 has a £15 registration fee and participants will receive a deerstalker hat, pipe and magnifying glass to help break the Guinness world record .The outdoor event will be a Sherlock festival of special guests, entertainment, music and dance.
  • For more information see www.sherlockworldrecord.com
  • The Yorkshire Brain Research Centre is part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Charitable Foundation.  Charity number 1075308.