March 2011
Fortunately, my father was a have-wheels-will-travel parent so when I was little more than a baby his pride and joy was a motor bike and sidecar. I would snuggle up on my mother's lap in the sidecar as we chugged along around thirty miles-an-hour to enjoy the countryside or coast whenever possible at weekends.
When I outgrew the sidecar my father made a little seat for me at the back. Unfortunately it was rather small and I was growing fast - no seat belts in those days! Then an accident, caused by a learner-driver on a main road, resulted in our vehicle hitting the car in front which sent me somersaulting onto the road. My head sustained a deep gash - never been the same since!
After that we progressed to a Baby Austin 7 - box on wheels - ruby colour with cream band round the middle. The car did not have a luggage compartment. Very small thin tyres and pumped up cushions resting on wooden seats did not exactly spell comfort, although we thought it did in those days!
In 1930, when I was 7, like my parents, I was thrilled when the little car took us on the 350 mile journey to Devon for a two week holiday.With the slow speed of that era it was a long drive but a picnic breakfast and coffee and tea breaks by the roadside were an added joy. As we were booked for bed and breakfast, days were spent sight-seeing and picnicking. How we enjoyed the cooked meals thanks to the primus stove and plenty of pots, pans and crockery. During that holiday I remember well the visits to beautiful picturesque villages en route to historic Totnes with its Norman castle ruins, the castle at Berry Pomeroy, Brixham harbour and many places of great interest.
One of the most memorable days was that when our little car climbed the very steep hills to Dartmoor. As we enjoyed our picnic lunch, not very far away, a group of men from Dartmoor prison, dressed in their khaki uniforms which were covered with the distinguishing worked arrow markings, came into view. The eight prisoners had only one warder with them and my mother was a little anxious but I was too excited to have any fears.
All wonderful memories. Back home, how sad I felt when that little car was eventually driven away for the last time - it felt like bereavement.
The new black car which replaced it, although having all modern comforts, never endeared so much. Then in due course I drove my own car, I took for granted its comfort, speed and spaciousness - the convenience it afforded at all times.
Now in this computerised world, saturation point is soon reached where wonder is concerned. How many seven year old children of today can really enjoy the natural beauty around us. How amusing they would probably find this description of a holiday in an Austin 7.