By Pamela McGowan

Last updated at 11:52, Tuesday, 12 May 2009

Forget Daniel Craig, Roger Moore and Sean Connery, the best Bond by far is Carlisle’s very own Harvey Tye.

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The 13-year-old, who suffers from a life-limiting muscle wasting condition, saw his dreams come true on Saturday as he spent the day living just like his all-time hero, 007.

With his slicked-back hair and smart tuxedo, he looked every inch the super spy as he climbed into his Aston Martin and fought off some villains.

Harvey’s dream came true thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a charity which grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening illnesses.

The James Rennie School pupil was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy when he was six. This means his muscle cells are slowly breaking down, causing him to become progressively weaker. Although he doesn’t need a wheelchair all the time he can’t walk long distances and his condition will worsen as he gets older.

But despite this, brave Harvey battles on and has always dreamt of one day being like his hero James Bond.

So when Make-A-Wish volunteers asked him for a list of three wishes you can imagine what his first choice was.

As if by fate, his wish coincided with the opening of the new Bond Museum in Keswick – and owner Peter Nelson was only too happy to help.

Together with the charity’s volunteers, he and his staff arranged a day Harvey would never forget.

It started early on Saturday morning when he got dressed into his James Bond suit. Along with parents Harvey and Jacqueline and little sister Madeline, he was picked up from his Newtown Road home in Carlisle in a limousine.

As he was driven down to Keswick, an excited Harvey watched his favourite Bond movie, Roger Moore’s Live and Let Die, on the DVD player.

On arrival he was greeted museum worker Matt Larkins, who was dressed as the film’s top baddy, Baron Samedi. Like the villain in the movie, he even had a snake wrapped round his neck, loaned by Trotters World of Animals near Bassenthwaite.

Staying completely in character, he and Dave Gaskell, dressed as Dr No’s henchman, gave Harvey a VIP tour of the museum.

On top of that he was allowed to hold the original ‘golden gun’ from the film of that name. It is usually kept under lock and key.

During the day he was also taken out in an Aston Martin belonging to a friend of Mr Nelson.

On the way home it was more Bond films in the limousine. followed by a family meal at Little Frankie’s restaurant in Lowther Street, Carlisle.

Mum Jacqueline, who nominated him to receive a wish from the charity, said it was the best day ever.

“He looked absolutely fantastic, just like James Bond,” she said. “The museum staff and Make-A-Wish volunteers were absolutely fantastic. They put in so effort for Harvey and didn’t leave Madeline out.

Established in 1986, Make-A-Wish has granted over 5,300 wishes to children.

n Harvey has also been invited to attend the charity’s James Bond-themed fundraising ball at Blenheim Palace in Oxford next month.

PMcGowan@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 11:24, Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk