Past Times Project.co.uk - interacting with all aspects of Great Britain's past from around the world
Free
membership
 
Find past friends.|Lifestory library.|Find heritage visits.|Gene Junction.|Seeking companions.|Nostalgia knowledge.|Seeking lost persons.







Home <> Lifestory Library <> Explore By Location <> <> <> On The Open Road With A Five Bob Licence




  Contributor: Gladys McInleyView/Add comments



The following are memories recalled by Gladys McInley, as recorded by Hanover Housing Association in their book 'Tale of the Century' published in 1999.

We were a young married couple who, in 1933, achieved our ambition: exchanging our motorbike and sidecar for the much advertised Austin 7, costing £100. I eagerly sat in the back of the car listening whilst my husband received his instructions. The next day I practised the control of the gears and, deciding that I was quite in control, took a neighbour for a drive...


We lived in Streatham at the time and off we went totally unprepared for the noise and wind -- we lost our hats and our words were drowned. Later at home I casually remarked to my husband, 'I took the car for a run'. For a moment he was speechless.

'But you don't have a licence', he feebly replied. The next day we went along to the post office and for five shillings we got my licence.

I drove for many years in Britain and then for 20 years in Rhodesia without ever passing a test. When I returned to England in 1983, my licence was not accepted and I was told that I must take a test. Well, I failed. Noting that the examiner was young enough to be my grandson, I sweetly replied, 'I was driving before you were born!'
View/Add comments






To add a comment you must first login or join for free, up in the top left corner.


Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Site map
Rob Blann | Worthing Dome Cinema