Everyone needs good neighbours

READING ABOUT the sad loss of ‘the father of the MGB’, Don Hayter, in Octane 211 reminded me how lucky I am.

Over the years, I helped my neighbour, the late John Terence Coombs, fettle his lovely MGB GT V8. One of only 2591 made, it was built in 1973 at Abingdon and despatched to Wadham Stringer of Worthing, Sussex, who sold the car to its first owner, a Mark Slattery of Hove, in 1974.

We spent many happy hours talking all things automotive and tackling the odd small job that old cars need from time to time. Sadly, in late 2018 John passed away and his pride and joy sat covered up in his garage. This was a shame, because cars need exercise now and again, but I had at least made sure the battery was being trickle-charged.

As time went by, I suggested to John’s widow that it might be best either to find a buyer or enter the car into an auction. She was reluctant to do that but asked if I would take the car out from