John was born and raised in Herefordshire and is a retired lorry driver to trade. He is a frequent visitor to rallies during the summer months, and both his Dodge lorries have won several trophies.
“I was brought up on a farm, but always wanted to be a mechanic,” he recalls. “I had to cycle eight miles to the village of Kingsland to work for my apprenticeship, whereas the local Forestry Commission was only a couple of miles away. The Forestry Commission agreed to pay me 53 shillings a week, whereas the apprenticeship was only offering 33 shillings, so guess where I ended up!”
John was put to work in the woods chopping down trees, but soon graduated to drivers’ mate.
“I was still only 16, but it was a start,” he said. “My job was to help with the unloading. It was hard graft but typical work for the period.”
Things took a turn for the better when the Forestry Commission needed a spare driver.
“The regular driver was Scottish, and he taught me to drive in his car,” John recalls. “I hadliving until he was 98.”
