Elizabeth still on the right road - after 100 years!
Thursday, 2 October 2008
Elizabeth Shiels pictured with (back row) David Boyd from Roadside Garages, niece Mamie Shiels and Michael Harrison from Roadside Garages.
ONE of Portstewart's oldest residents has just invested in a new top of the range Vauxhall car after 60 years spent driving Rovers.
100-year-old Elizabeth Shiels is still going strong and knew exactly what she wanted when she hit Roadside Garage's showroom with her niece, Mamie Shiels, at the end of August.
Managing Director of Roadside Garages, David Boyd, told the Chronicle Elizabeth and Mamie had a very clear idea of what they were looking for.
“Elizabeth came in and decided she would like to buy a new car," he said.
“She chose a new Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Elite and then came back with her niece to take delivery of it later. She was able to tell me it was a Vauxhall Astra and everything!"
Michael Harrison, Roadside Garage's motability specialist and Vauxhall salesman, told the Chronicle: "She basically wanted a car with the same features they already had - leather seats and a sun roof. I had the same model of car that they ended up buying, so I showed them what mine was like."
The pair broke with tradition to acquire their new Vauxhall as their family has a history of driving Wolsleys, Austins and Rovers throughout the years.
David Boyd told the Chronicle: "Elizabeth was able to rhyme off all the cars she's driven!"
Although Elizabeth said she would gladly take the wheel herself, it is Mamie who will be doing the driving for her.
Mamie told the Chronicle: "The car is not for Elizabeth to drive but it's her car. I take her out and about. We use the car quite a lot for drives and to go shopping."
Elizabeth, a very sociable and indeed humorous woman, hit it off immediately with motability specialist and Vauxhall salesman, Michael Harrison, building up quite a rapport with him. As a result, she and her niece have continued to check in with the garage regularly with any queries they have about their new car.
David said: "We have been in touch on almost a weekly basis for the past couple of months."
Mamie told Roadside Garages driving was in their blood and that Elizabeth hasn't been without a car for 86 years. Indeed, she was probably one of the first to have a car at a time when horse and carts were still commonplace.
Elizabeth recalled her earliest motoring memories to the Chronicle: "I was driving before I was the right age," she said.
“I took my father with me. He couldn't drive but he worked as a shield for me! I used to drive around the yard as well by myself."
Elizabeth Shiels grew up in Maghera, but now resides in Portstewart. She is a former pupil of the Rainey Endowed Grammar School in Magherafelt and was later also a pupil of Methody.
Qualifying as a teacher of maths and biology, she moved to Portstewart, where she now lives with her niece Mamie Shiels, after taking up a post at Coleraine High School. Before this she worked in England, later transferring to Bangor Grammar School, Down High in Downpatrick and finally to Coleraine High.
Elizabeth used to drive to work when she was at Downpatrick and maintains she is still capable of doing so now if she was allowed.
Mamie told the Chronicle her aunt likes meeting new people and has always enjoyed watching quiz shows and and doing crosswords. This is perhaps what has kept her mind sharp over the years.
Born on December 26, 1907, Elizabeth can still recall many of her earliest memories, despite the fact she will be celebrating her 101st birthday this Christmas.
She told the Chronicle: "I'm very well. I'm one of the lucky ones."
Elizabeth's knowledge of cars is not as unlikely sounding as it might be, considering her prior motoring history.
David Boyd recalled: "She's been driving all her life. She drove Wolsley, Morris and Austin cars and was able to rhyme off what she's driven."
For those who might imagine living long enough to receive their honorary telegram from the Queen, hitting 100 years of age might evoke thoughts of rest and relaxation but Elizabeth is still looking out on the road ahead.
