Photo: Young Driver
Meet Don. He is 98-year 'young' man who joined the Young Driver driving school. Ofor years, he has been living in the Beverly Parklands Care Home.
Don Mitchel will turn 100 next year. But he is ticking things on his bucket list. And one of them going back behind the wheel. The last time he drove a car was when he was 94. At that age, he had to give up his driving license as a safety precaution. "I was heartbroken to give my license," he told.
He had been driving for half a decade. And now he has finally done it again.
Young Driver is a program that addresses kids who are not legally able to drive. But there is no actual age limit. They learn how to steer, to shift gears, brake, drive in junctions and roundabouts, and park. Therefore, when they start taking classes in a driving school, they already know basic notions about driving. Furthermore, research shows that such lessons reduce the accident rate for newly qualified drivers.
The program has been active for the last 14 years, with 1.3 million lessons given. Yet Don is the eldest pupil that has ever joined the program. He attended the driving lessons at the Defence School of Transport at Leconfield near Beverly. This time, it was a Vauxhall Corsa for him. Yet, his all-time favorite car was a Morris Minor. He eventually sold it for more than he had bought it for.
Just like any car used by driving schools, this one also sports dual control. Thus, the instructor sitting in the passenger seat can assist the one behind the wheel if necessary. But Don did not need any assistance.
He knew his way around the car, he knew the controls and handled the steering properly. He still had his driving skills after all these years. "Like riding a bike, it all comes back to you," he explains.
Don was born in Tower Hamlets, and he joined the Navy as a communication boy. He eventually worked his way up to radio and radar technician. He joined the crew on the Fleet Destroyer HMS Matchless, HMS Collingwood, and HMS Belfast, but had to stop when he found out he suffered from tuberculosis. It took him nine months to recover. But during that time, he was discharged to civilian life.
In his civilian life, he married Marg from Hull and had a son who is now a teacher in Australia. Don and Marg bought a house in Garden Village and eventually moved to Beverley, the town they had fallen in love with, during one of their many visits. But since 2022, the 98-year old lives in Parklands Care Home.
The move was part of the 'Together We Can' that kicked off this year and targets all the 11 Care Homes.
He had been driving for half a decade. And now he has finally done it again.
Young Driver is a program that addresses kids who are not legally able to drive. But there is no actual age limit. They learn how to steer, to shift gears, brake, drive in junctions and roundabouts, and park. Therefore, when they start taking classes in a driving school, they already know basic notions about driving. Furthermore, research shows that such lessons reduce the accident rate for newly qualified drivers.
The program has been active for the last 14 years, with 1.3 million lessons given. Yet Don is the eldest pupil that has ever joined the program. He attended the driving lessons at the Defence School of Transport at Leconfield near Beverly. This time, it was a Vauxhall Corsa for him. Yet, his all-time favorite car was a Morris Minor. He eventually sold it for more than he had bought it for.
Just like any car used by driving schools, this one also sports dual control. Thus, the instructor sitting in the passenger seat can assist the one behind the wheel if necessary. But Don did not need any assistance.
He knew his way around the car, he knew the controls and handled the steering properly. He still had his driving skills after all these years. "Like riding a bike, it all comes back to you," he explains.
Don was born in Tower Hamlets, and he joined the Navy as a communication boy. He eventually worked his way up to radio and radar technician. He joined the crew on the Fleet Destroyer HMS Matchless, HMS Collingwood, and HMS Belfast, but had to stop when he found out he suffered from tuberculosis. It took him nine months to recover. But during that time, he was discharged to civilian life.
In his civilian life, he married Marg from Hull and had a son who is now a teacher in Australia. Don and Marg bought a house in Garden Village and eventually moved to Beverley, the town they had fallen in love with, during one of their many visits. But since 2022, the 98-year old lives in Parklands Care Home.
The move was part of the 'Together We Can' that kicked off this year and targets all the 11 Care Homes.
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