Linda Gilbert remembers her Grandmother's motorised adventures

Vera Hanson (foreground) and her Aunt Maud

Linda’s grandmother, Vera Hanson was a very active woman. One of her passions was hill walking with her husband Sidney. Often she would sit in front of a map with pin, close her eyes and stick the pin in the map - then she would go to Thomas Cook and book the nearest flight to that place.

When she developed osteoarthritis in both hips Vera really resented her loss of freedom. She'd never learnt to drive, but when she had heard about a government scheme which supplied three wheeled 'trikes' to disabled people Vera applied for one and learnt to drive. She was granted her first car (small pale blue, with only one seat) during the 1960’s. Occasionally Linda would cram in for an illicit ride.

Most people used their three-wheeled car to go shopping and visit nearby family and friends, but not Vera. She headed out on the highways and by-ways of the countryside, Yorkshire, Scotland and the Lake District, single-handedly negotiating the motorways of Great Britain. Other motorists used to think it was illegal for her car to ride the motorways, but it wasn’t, her car’s engine qualified her to do so.

Vera and her motorised trike

One downside was the single seat, which meant poor old Sidney had to travel separately by train or bus and arrange to meet up when they both arrived at their destination. Eventually Vera's disability prevented her from driving, but that vehicle had given her precious extra years of liberty.