Hi,
Probably about 1964, I was stationary in Lincoln, behind another car, waiting for the traffic lights to change.
BANG! ... short pause ... BANG!
I climbed out of my 1959 Minivan, top find the front of the Mini "engaged" with the rear of the car in front, and a Renault Dauphine "buried" in the back of my van.
An RAF Squadron Leader climbed out of the car in front, loudly complainiing that this happened every time he bought a new car. Me? I was wearing my RAF "working blue", with just a single stripe (Juniour Techniciian) on my sleeve. I should not have been wearing "working blue" off camp. Salutes were exchanged, and nothing said about my uniform.
Whatever, we both went to talk to the driver behind, who by this time was hanging on his now open driver's door. "What happened?" he slurred. We decided he was drunk, and called the police.
Two police officers arrived,, and took our statements, leaving the "perp" till we were on our way.
No problem, I thought, and claimed against the driver of the car that ran int me. Got a reply, by return of post, from his insurers.
"Our client had suffered a heart attack, of which he had no prior warning, and therefore cannot be held legally liable. We will not entertain any claim against him!"
I checked with the police, who confirmed his story, and had told him he must not drive again until his doctor had given permission, and were taking no further action.
The other driver worked for an insurance company. I barged into his office, to complain, but to no avail ... apart from dating his secretary for a few months.
However, my insurers (this was the first car I had ever insured Fully Comp), unknowingly paid for a new Mini car front (chrome grill, and surround, not the grey primer grill of the van) and a full respray in black, with a bronze roof.
I was regularly waved at by police drivers, as at that time only police Mini-vans were painted black.
The saga continues ... I fitted side windows in the back of the van, so had to present it to Customs & Excise for Purchase Tax valuation. I asked the Valuation Officer to be very critical to keep[ the value down. I think her did as I asked, and I only had to pay £26 Purchase Tax.
But that's not the end of the story ...
Some months later, I met Barbara, and on learning that she worked for C&E, I jokingly "bad mouthed" her employers, and by association ... her.
Barbara worked at Kingsbeam House, the C&E Headquarters, at the end of the "then" London Bridge. I believe London Bridge was sold to a Yank, who thought he was buying Tower Bridge, and shipped to America. Google probably has the story.
Barbara called up my file, and didn't like the critical comments that the Valuation Office had made (at my request), so admonished him on some other matter.
Barbara married me in 1965 and came to Malaya, just in time to miss all the promotions that followed Purchase Tax being changed to Value Added Tax. There was some talk of her being a "secret agent" (Penang was a Free Port) but they decided it was no job for a woman.
PS ... I wonder if Google has the story about the London bus that jumped the gap, as Tower Bridge was opening?
A Google for LONDON BUS JUMPS TOWER BRIDGE found some results, but this Techno-wimp is unable to get a grip on them.
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Topic: Insurance renewal ! Starting to hurt (Read 1720 times)
