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Denis Cooke has always been someone who likes to keep moving. Born and raised in the Lake District, he spent much of his younger life walking, cycling, completing triathlons and even sub-aqua diving.
In 1974 Denis joined the Fire Service, spending 19 years as a full-time firefighter before becoming a community fire safety officer, a role that took him around the county working with schools, community groups and organisations supporting older and disabled people. “I enjoyed travelling the county, meeting people and educating them about fire safety and wellbeing,” he says.
Today, family and friends remain a big part of life for Denis and Jill. With relatives spread across the UK, they regularly travel to see them, while closer to home they enjoy getting out around the Lake District, visiting stately homes, gardens and other places they can explore together.
Denis’ mobility scooter story began during lockdown when he started to find their daily walks increasingly difficult. After being diagnosed with ‘drop foot’, he underwent surgery in 2022 to help prevent his condition from deteriorating further, but was left with mobility and balance problems.
Initially reluctant to use mobility aids, Denis changed his mind after buying his first scooter. “I realised what a benefit to my mobility and independence it was. It opened a new chapter for me, enabling me to go for ‘walks’ with my wife again and put travel back on the agenda.”
When he later decided he needed something faster, easier to get into the car, and better suited to the places he wanted to visit, Denis bought an eFOLDi Explorer, which he named Bullet after the dog belonging to his childhood cowboy hero, Roy Rogers.
Earlier this year, Bullet joined Denis and Jill on their first cruise, sailing from Liverpool to Norway. The couple had always wanted to see the fjords and visited Olden, Molde and Bergen, with a stop in Kirkwall in the Orkneys on the way home. One of the highlights was a trip to the Briksdal Glacier from Olden, including a journey into the mountains and a Troll Car ride for the final stretch. “The views were spectacular and the colours of the water from the melting ice were amazing,” says Denis.
Travelling with Bullet proved straightforward. Denis was able to take his scooter ashore at each stop and, when passengers had to use a tender at Olden, it was folded and loaded on after he had boarded.
On the ship it meant he could comfortably get between the restaurants, entertainment and other facilities, as well as join Jill for laps of the promenade deck. “Without the Explorer, I would not have been able to leave the ship and enjoy visiting new locations. Getting around on board would have been exhausting.”
Bullet also proved to be quite a conversation starter, with crew and passengers regularly stopping Denis to ask about it, while one German holidaymaker was so interested that he ended up taking it for a spin across a car park before asking for the details.
For Denis, who has always enjoyed meeting and talking to people, that is all part of the fun. “I have always enjoyed being on the move and chatting with people. It is part of who I am and the thought of not being able to do those things would be very depressing.”
There was even an unexpected benefit on one particularly rough day at sea. Despite having suffered from travel sickness in the past, Denis found he was perfectly fine sitting on Bullet as the ship rolled from side to side. “Perhaps it’s a cure for sea sickness!” he jokes.
For someone who has always enjoyed being active and independent, adapting to reduced mobility hasn’t always been easy, but it hasn’t stopped Denis making plans. More travels are already on the horizon and, as he says: “Sometimes I get frustrated at my lack of mobility, but I know how fortunate I am to be able to do what I do, with the help of the Explorer.”
With more travels already planned, it sounds as though Denis, Jill and Bullet still have plenty of adventures ahead.
