Bridegroom becomes a motor-car driver

At the age of 82, Rushall Park resident Alexander McNaughton takes the wheel of a motor-car for the first time with his new bride in 1929.

McNaughton, a veteran commercial traveller, whose memories of road transport went back to the old horse coaching days took to driving ‘like a duck to water’.

He had applied by telephone to Mr Clemenger, manager of All British Motors, the same day for the opportunity to try and automatic gear-changing device on the Armstrong Siddeley car, about which he had been reading.

Mr Clemenger readily obliged when he realised that Mr McNaughton had recently married a 75-year-old lady. Both were residents of Rushall Park.

According to The Age newspaper, “Accompanied by his bride in the car, Mr McNaughton promptly mastered the gear-changing device, and drop at low, medium and high register with confidence and evident enjoyment.”

“He declared that it was a trifling effort compared with controlling a four-in-hand Cobb’s mail coach of other days.”