By Pam McClounie

Last updated at 15:15, Wednesday, 26 September 2012

Mike Welsh is a man with a van whose job sometimes allows him to mix with television celebrities.

Mike Welsh

The 51-year-old left his job as a tyre builder at Pirelli in Carlisle and set up his own business – Man with a Van.

Mike, of Etterby Lea Crescent, Stanwix, said: “I had the van but it was empty about five days a week and I decided to do something about it.

“I’d been using it to shift bankrupt stock but that was only about two days a week.”

Mike now helps people who need a van to transport big goods like furniture. He said: “I do a lot of house moves and student moves and I also drive for The Range on Currock Road. Mondays and Tuesdays are usually my quiet days but I’m busy on Fridays and Saturdays.”

But one day Mike, a Falklands veteran, received a call from a film company asking if he could do some work for them at a castle in South West Scotland.

Mike, who spent nine years with the Scots Guards, said: “They were filming The Decoy Bride starring David Tennant and some American actresses and they wanted me to move props and camera equipment about 200 yards. It really wasn’t far but their own vehicles weren’t big enough.

“I got to meet David Tennant.

“I’m not really a big fan of Doctor Who but it was nice to meet him. It’s the biggest and only television job I’ve ever done and I enjoyed it.

“I’ve enjoyed most of my jobs as a soldier, at Pirelli and now this. I’m self employed now and I don’t have any plans to expand – one van is enough.”

First published at 11:30, Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk