I’m still looking for a new mantelpiece clock but since then I have actually met people who have achieved something in life rather than just setting fire to a front room.

I have tried to help out with military charities wherever I go in the county and Alabaré is one close to my heart. It is a homeless charity based in Plymouth but reaches out right across the county to help military veterans who have nowhere to go other than the streets. Their simple but inviting home offers comfort, a bed and the security of four walls for people who find themselves in less than ideal circumstances, providing support to get back to independent living.

As an ambassador, I was honoured to be asked to attend a small ceremony, the handing over of the High Sheriff of Devon award to two people from the staff who have been recognised for their great and valuable service to the community. High Sheriff Commodore Jake Moores, OBE DL RN, awarded Nicola Hurlstone and Jan Murray with their certificates, two simple pieces of paper which mean so much to the recipients and to the charity.

Then it was off to Chagford for a meeting of the Royal British Legion Dartmoor branch, of which I am president.

Having been born on Dartmoor, I feel at home on its water coloured hills and in the occasional wooded valleys. When I was a ‘new one’, Chagford was the destination for a big day out on the bus. If you were lucky, you got to go to the hardware store for a new plunger.

Now, these are serious meetings with the community in mind and you may notice a very familiar face on our committee, Nick McKinnel, former Bishop of Crediton and Plymouth. Nick is now based on Dartmoor as the priest in charge of many local parishes but finds time to help with RBL matters.

To that end we would like to confirm that there will be the laying up of the standard of the Chagford branch at St Michael the Archangel’s Church, Chagford on the VE Day 80th anniversary service on May 8. More details to follow. I love holding the meetings at Chagford, there is an excellent wine shop two doors down.

A few days later I was back on the hills of Dartmoor doing a speech at a lunch for the South West Porsche club at Bovey Tracey golf course.

Yes, I am a petrol head and among these sleek, state of the art, German precision machines I rocked up in my Dax 427 Cobra, proudly leaving a puddle of oil and coolant in the car park. They arrived in air conditioned splendour; I arrived having spat out one of the very first wasps of the new season.

I have always admired the build on Porsche but prefer the risk of American engineering with its total disregard to limiting size or practicality. Why use two tiny screws when an aircraft bolt and spot welding will do. Also, the engine is designed to leak oil. If it does not, it has run out of oil!

My beast was built in 1991 in a factory in Essex and is a replica of the original Shelby Cobras which rolled off the production line in the 1960s. Only 1,000 or so originals were built and if you want one, you better start saving! They range from £750,000 to around £1.4 million and beyond. But even the replicas can be eye watering, as can their road performance. They can achieve nought to magistrate’s court in about eight seconds. In a car show last year I was asked by a fellow petrol head, does it have an anti-theft device?

“Yes, I only leave half a gallon in the tank… whoever nicks it will only get about two to three miles!”

He thought I was joking. I was not! The best advert I saw for one read… “Police say performance is remarkable.”

Which may have also answered the question as to why it was for sale.

These incredible cars were originally designed by Carroll Shelby, an American race driver who also went on to help put together the Mustang. One story behind this incredible individual was that he was a poultry farmer and one day, knee deep in chicken poop, he was reminded that he was racing at a local track in a few hours.

In a blind panic, he ran to his road vehicle and sped off. Getting to the track just in time, he climbed aboard and was off… still wearing his farm overalls… a one piece suit which led to all drivers adopting the look, which is still the case today. There is certainly some truth in this story and to back it up, I was watching a documentary from the Stirling Moss era and not only did they race in short sleeve shirts, but I spotted a few of the drivers wearing ties.

The number plate is N60 BRA, which is supposed to read N Cobra and NOT No Bra! A gentleman in Torquay pulled up beside me at Wren Park and introduced himself as a nightclub owner which employed young ladies who tended to be carelessly dressed! Would I like to sell the number plate? He offered me quite a large amount of money. I declined. He added a five-year membership to the club … I declined.

The only problem with driving the beast is that ‘boy racers’ do tend to challenge me which on occasion does make me smile. At traffic lights in Paignton several years ago I suddenly became aware of a presence. A matt pink 1.0 litre Vauxhall Corsa with yellow primer patches, had slid up beside me.

The young man behind the wheel had a grin like a hyena and a haircut to match. He was being heralded by some friends on the pavement who had just fallen out of a pub… I cannot remember the name of the boozer, but it was something like The Nun and Post It Note.

“Get on, Maggot… burn him off,” was the cry.

Maggot seemed to be encouraged by this and gripped the steering wheel. I did wonder what sort of parents would name their child ‘Maggot’ but only last week I was passed by a speeding juvenile on a scooter, pursued by his mother who shouted… “Plantagenet’ …. Wait for mummy!”

Plantagenet… good luck in the playground, kid.

Anyway, back to the start of the Paignton 24-hour. Maggot revved his engine and shouted something like … “To the next set of lights.”

I gave him my best withering stare and decided to do a childish thing; I revved the 5.4-litre small block chevvy… and his interior mirror fell off. By the time he had found the mirror I had driven slowly to a petrol station as revving it had reduced the tank quite dramatically.

Anyway, I enclose photographic evidence of the number plate and by the angle you can tell it’s not moving anytime soon.