First car

As far as I can remember this was our first family car. Up until now, we had only had my father's company pickup, I think initially a USA Chevy or similar and then SWB Land Rovers.

However, my mother was seemingly itching to be independent and the decision was taken to get a car. I suspect my parent's had bought it directly from the Opel Works in Russelsheim near Frankfurt while on leave. My mother's brother Georg lived and worked in Russelsheim and we would always visit him when on leave.

It was common practice to order a new car in advance from Trinidad and have it ready to collect, either at Southampton docks or from the works. After the 6-8 weeks of leave, the car would be driven to Southampton and loaded on the ship one was sailing back home on. I seem to remember that if it was a passenger type ship, it was relatively easy but if more a cargo ship with a few passenger berths, the car would be on deck and for the journey was covered in grease to protect it from salt.

This Opel Rekord P1, two-seater was built from 1957-1962.

There was just one problem. My mother didn't have a driving license and so my father taught her. Never a good idea for a husband to teach a wife and it was a time when I well remember crying a lot. I had never heard them shouting at each other before. I can remember one lesson in particular when they set off from our house, me sitting on the outside steps and watching with fear through soaking wet eyes as they disappeared up the hill towards the company guest house about 1km away.

However, my mother did pass her test. In the Blip, we were no doubt on a private company road and time for another lesson. I can just be seen in the back seat to the right of the rearview mirror.