It was in my late teens I started navigating. Did so happily for a good few years - then I decided I could probably drive faster myself!?! And so the slippery slope began, when I bought an old Escort from Fred Henderson in 1976. Continued having fun with this, and spending my money on overalls etc rather than the usual female trappings. Then the Fiesta Championship came along.

Enjoyed the year, despite collecting my souvenir broken collar-bone at Oulton Park.   Continued driving my own Twin Cam Escort, notching up 29^th on the Jim Clark National.    The end came when I rolled it heavily on Telford Stages and it was written off.   Well now, got that out of my system!

Reverted to co-driver role when asked to go with Ruth Hillier on ’83 Monte Carlo (along with Louise & Ellen).     62^nd O/A despite an off on one of the first stages.   There followed a succession of different rallies with different male drivers in a variety of cars, including Allan Poole’s Golf GTI – ’84 Circuit of Ireland 16^th O/A.

Whilst Christine (Coward) & I tutored new navigators in our local motor club, in ’85 I decided to return to road rallies.   This was tremendous for a couple of seasons only.   In ’86 I went with Geoff Fielding to do Cyprus in his then Metro 6R4 – the last International appearance of this make of car.   Unfortunately driveshaft breakage curtailed our battle for the lead.   1987 I did the AC Delco Vauxhall Astra-Nova Championship with young Paul Frankland- which we won.   I continued through to ’93 with various male & female drivers, with mixed success, Minna Sillankorva on ’87 Welsh & Scottish, 3^rd O/A on ’88 Cumbria with George Donaldson, John Pye on many stage events (e.g.18^th on ’89 Manx Int).   And the dubious honour of being last overall on the ’89 RAC after a season in a Harry Hockley car coaxing & mentoring raw novice,  Liz Jeffries.    (The sponsors were thrilled! I was drained!).   Possibly my last event was a good 7^th O/A on the ’93 Ulster Rally, with the naughty Mr Frankland.

Have had a super time driving & navigating on rallies, marshalling, service crew & race pit crew work over the years.   Never married, though very close once or twice.    Unfortunately no kids.   My HR job is interesting & pays the mortgage.   These days more into going out and about with friends, hill walking and yoga, and I was very proud to have raised over £2,000 for the British Heart Foundation in 2001 when I did a trek up to Macchapuchare in the Himalaya.   My really good (& very fit) friend Kevin died of sudden heart failure while we were walking in the Lake District so it seemed fitting.    I’d always wanted to go to the Himalayas & would love to go back to Nepal!    Who knows what’s round the corner!

Mary