The main street of Oxford, North Canterbury, was awash with people and automobiles to welcome two intrepid English motorists to town.

Tim Nicholson and Joanne Bowlt’s epic road journey from Oxford, England to Oxford, New Zealand ended on Sunday February 13th, nine months, nine sea crossings and 25,000 kilometres after they first climbed into their fifty year old Morris Oxford to begin their epic journey.

They and their 1954 classic British car, called Florence, steered clear of camels in the deserts of North Africa, avoided elephants and holy cows on the monsoon potholed roads of India, and dodged Australian kamikaze kangaroos and erratic emus on route to New Zealand.

More than 150 Morris Oxford cars and hundreds of well-wishers turned out to give the pair a ‘vintage’ welcome on their arrival in Oxford, North Canterbury.

The pair were ‘bowled over’ by the reception.

“We didn’t realise until we pulled into Oxford how big the welcome was going to be and we certainly didn’t expect to see so many people”, Joanne Bowlt said.

“It is unbelievable”, Tim Nicholson said, “we are simply overwhelmed”.

In officially welcoming the pair to the town, Mayor, Jim Gerard, said they would probably struggle to relate the Oxford of England they know – to the Oxford of New Zealand.

“Our two Oxfords are quite ‘literally’ poles apart – not just in distance – but in populations, history and culture. One relying on education to make its mark – the other on agriculture for it’s sustenance.”

“ Your Oxford is now a bustling cosmopolitan City –our Oxford a small rural town by comparison.

“Where your Oxford, England has been home to royalty and scholars for over 800 years – boasting a population now in excess of 300 thousand - Oxford, North Canterbury, is but 140 years young with a population of less than five thousand.”

While the rural surrounds both feature diary, sheep and crop farming – and both coincidentally have streets named ‘Queen and High’ – that is where he said any similarities end.

But Mayor Gerard told the travellers he believed their journey between the two namesakes would do much to bring the ’people’ of the two Oxfords closer together.

The couple were gifted a painting by local artist Kevin Bull and plaque carved from local wood by local craftsman, Tom Ross, as a momento of their journey.

They were also asked to take back a plaque from the people of the Waimakariri to the Lord Mayor of Oxford.

Joanne, 35, a public relations consultant, and Tim, 37, a chartered surveyor, left their London jobs, let out their flats, and put their possessions into storage in order to undertake their adventure.

Largely self-funded, the couple were supported by key sponsors including P&O Nedlloyd who shipped ‘Florence’ from Singapore to Perth and from Sydney to Auckland; Oxford based Community Internet who provide the pair with global roaming internet access and Vodaphone who assisted with mobile phone communications.

The couple are Red Cross volunteers and have used their journey to fund-raise in support of the British Red Cross Society as well as the New Zealand and Australian Red Cross societies en route, at events and through their website.

Acting Director General of the New Zealand Red Cross, Terry Butt, welcomed the British adventurers to New Zealand. “We are delighted that Tim and Joanne have chosen to support the Red Cross and I congratulate them on the success of their inspiring challenge.”

The couple, and Florence, will be returning to the UK via Australia and Italy where they will visit the site of the Battle of Solferino where Henry Dunant was inspired to found the Red Cross and the home of the IFRC and ICRC in Geneva before driving back to Oxford, England via Paris and London.

They are due to arrive back in the UK in July 2005.

You can monitor their progress via www.oxford2oxford.co.uk

click to view larger image