AAS ARBORFIELD - 1954

Contributed by: Trevor STUBBERFIELD (52A)

The Driving Licence.

A bit the worse for wear but this is the Driving Licence issued when I passed my driving test in 1954. It depicts the time when the details were hand written and the Vehicles Of All Groups category was hand stamped, much different to the plastic, credit card sized photograph licence currently issued along with a paper back-up. The fee of 5/- (five shillings) equates to £0.25p in today's currency.

My instructor was Mr. Winson Jnr, with the test taking place around Reading with Major Butcher R.E.M.E. as the examiner.

Inside, at the back of the licence, it records that in August of 1954, months prior to the issue date of the new licence, I had passed the Driving Test in Essex for Group G Vehicles (Motor Cycles and Tricycles). This put me in an awkward spot when I handed it over to the Chief Instructor who was arranging a Provisional Licence at the start of the driving course of instruction. Bearing in mind that motor-cycles were banned at the school, how was it I had passed a driving test on such a machine? "Explanation Stubberfield please!" I managed to convince him that I had used my brother's bike, whilst I was home on leave, and had trained, booked a test, and passed it all in the space of a few weeks. I was extremely relieved when he accepted my explanation. The truth was that I had the bike with me at Arborfield for quite some time and it was secreted away in the Married Quarters area of the garrison.

Also recorded is the authorisation to drive in Libya, luckily scribed in English, for the rubber stamp is all Arabic to me.

Published: 15th February 2007

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