At that time you could drive a three wheeled car from the age of 16. Originally the rules had been that it could not have reverse gear but that was changed and so in August 1970 I was the proud owner of a 1966 bright red Reliant Regal, Registration number PEV 74D. It is pictured below with the 16 year old me at the wheel.
I was very lucky to have the car and I drove to school and parked on the left hand side of front quad where the boys who had cars were allowed to park. The Masters and Mistresses parked on the right hand side of front quad. The boys at my school generally met up at a the Gaytime Coffee Bar (the name meant happy time then!) in Loughton with the girls from Loughton Girls school and Braeside in Buckhurst Hill.
I didn't have a girl friend but my best friend at school did and so I drove from Abridge early in the morning to his home in Chigwell where he lived with his parents and brother and then we went on to Loughton to his girlfriend's home where she lived with her parents and sisters. My friend delivered his card and present and we returned to our homes.
The Valentine's card worked as they eventually married. Sadly he passed away some years ago.
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