Emotional family reunion with Heartbeat writer’s Jaguar

The return of the classic car will bring together Rhea’s family for a poignant reunion nearly a decade after they last saw it.

The Heartbeat Vehicle Rally, which takes place annually in Goathland – known to fans of the show as Aidensfield -will welcome the return of the late author’s cherished Jaguar Mark 2 on June 27.

How the car looked when it was discovered five years after the family had sold it (Image: Nicholas Rhea family archive)

Nicholas Rhea, whose real name was Peter N Walker, was the creator of the Constable books that inspired the long-running ITV drama Heartbeat.

Sarah Todd, Rhea’s daughter and writer of the Countryman’s Daughter column for The Darlington & Stockton Times, said: “It was one of the best moments of my life.”

“It cast a spell on him that lasted the rest of his life.”

How it looks now after a complete restoration by Richard James (Image: Nicholas Rhea family archive)

Mr Rhea first spotted the sky blue Jaguar in 1975 and used it until it failed its MOT in 1979.

He kept the car in his garage for 15 years and only found the means to repair it after the success of Heartbeat.

Sarah said: “I told Dad I wanted to be driven to my wedding in the Jaguar. Dad promised to make it happen.” On 14th May 1994, she sat with her dad in the back of his beloved car being driven to the church.

Sadly, after a diagnosis of prostate cancer, Rhea died on 21st April 2017.

Heartbeat author Nicholas Rhea (AKA Peter N Walker) far left, pours champagne for the happy couple, his daughter Sarah and new husband Marc, in 1994. Sarah and her family will be reunited with Rhea’s beloved Mark 2 Jaguar at the Heartbeat Vehicle Rally in Goathland on June 27 (Image: Nicholas Rhea family archive)

Believing they could not look after the car properly, the family made the difficult decision to sell it.

Sarah said: “Watching it drive away was like losing my dad all over again.

“I consoled myself by thinking the new owner would cherish it as we had.

“But I was wrong.”

Heartbeat Vehicle Rally organiser Lee Jones later spotted the car on Facebook, having been bought in poor condition by Jaguar enthusiast Richard James.

Sarah said: “Seeing the ‘before’ pictures broke my heart. It was awful.”

Mr James was unaware of the vehicle’s pedigree until he found a Heartbeat pen under the back seats during restoration.

He has since named the car ‘Grace’ and will reunite it with the family at the rally, including Mr Rhea’s 89-year-old widow, Rhoda.