| Barbara |
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When I was a small child I was friendly with a girl who lived in a house in Stamford. Their garden was at the side of the house fronting onto the road. I always liked going to play there. They had a very large monkey puzzle tree in the garden. Better than that, they had a very old open top antique car parked at the side of the tree. We used to play in the car, sitting behind the steering wheel and on the shiney leather seats. I wonder what became of that car and whether it still exists. I don't know what make of car it was.
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| Roger Partridge |
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Our house in Reform St had a garden at the side and a monkey puzzle tree. But no old car! At least not from the 1950s onwards.
Tree now gone and garden had 2 houses built on it.
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| Caroline Bentley |
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My father Mark Hooson had a vintage 1927 AC. It was often outside our house in Rutland Terrace, but also at "Southlawn" where his sister (my aunt lived) I often sat in the car there with friends who came to play. Can't remember a Barbara though.
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| Jill |
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I remember Mr Mark Hooson taught my dear Mother to drive - memories.. she passed the test after no less than five attempts! So interesting to find out more about the past, think it would have been about 1961. Not in the antique car though!
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| Mike Laughton |
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I remember Mark's car well. It was probably the most easily recognisable car in Stamford during the late 50s and early '60s.
And considering he was a driving instructor it was also a valuable asset helping to advertise his business.
He called it Miranda. At the time he obtained it he was appearing in a play with Stamford Amateur Stage (which later became Shoestring Theatre) called Miranda the Mermaid.
He used to tell an amusing story about the car; when he told a friend he was taking Miranda to Brighton for the weekend the friend thought he had got a fancy woman.
I believe the car is still owned locally - possibly by someone who lives in Rutland. The last time I saw Miranda was four years ago when it was on display with other vintage and classic cars at the Rutland County Show when it was still being held at Burley on the Hill.
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