Motoring enthusiast Diane Green got the chance to recreate a magical moment of family history with her great-grandson at her care home’s classic car show.
Diane, 82, was thrilled when local couple Mary and Roy Rowlands brought along their Austin J40 pedal car to the show at Cofton Park Manor Care Home, and Alfie, who is almost one, slipped into the driver’s seat.
Back when Diane was a child, her father worked at the Austin Motor Company factory, where employees took their children to an annual gala day featuring a pedal car race.
So seeing the Austin J40 at Saturday’s event brought back cherished memories for Diane, who was thrilled to make another with her great-grandson, who loves cars too.
Diane said: “It has brought back so many memories of when I was a small child at the Austin J40 races. I remember all the children racing around the track on the gala day; the atmosphere was amazing.
“It was a dream come true to see Alfie in the Austin J40 and reminded me of those lovely memories I made with my dad. It was so good of Mary and Roy to bring the pedal car to today’s event.”
For Mary, the connection to the vehicle is equally personal, as her father, Alfred Ash, was one of the Austin workers involved in designing and building the early Austin pedal car prototypes.
She has dedicated her time to preserving the legacy of these iconic vehicles and currently serves as the membership secretary for the Austin J40 Pedal Car Club.
Mary said: “It was a true pleasure to see everyone enjoying our Austin J40 pedal car.”
The classic car show is a hugely popular annual event at the Lickey Road care home, and this year’s didn’t disappoint.
Customer Relations Manager Wendy Sibley said: “We can’t thank Mary and Roy enough for helping Diane and her family to create such a special memory.
“This year’s car show was a wonderful celebration of family, history and treasured memories, and completely unforgettable for Diane and her family.”