We pull on the driving gloves and fire up the engine of the first car in our time-capsule garage: a 1972 Ford Escort Mk1 1300 XL.

The bronze four-door family car was the first Bill ever drove and belonged to his trusty driving instructor, Bob. Emblazoned with L plates, it would have been a familiar sight pootling gingerly around the residential backstreets and trading estates of Gateshead in 1973 and 1974.

But what would Bill have been listening to on the car radio – if that had been allowed during a driving lesson? And what are his defining memories of that period, personally and professionally?

Join us as we begin our trip down memory lane. Each episode will chronicle one – or more – of the 40 classic cars former Fleet Street sports editor, Bill, has owned over the past 50 years. TV political journalist, Kit, will be doing his best to make sure we don’t get too lost along the way. New episodes every month.

Thanks to online auctioneer TradeClassics.com for the genuine sound recording of a Ford Escort AVO Mexico used in this episode.

The Drive of My Life Podcast: Episode 1. Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

Get in touch with the podcast by emailing driveofmylifepodcast@gmail.com

A Bradshaw & Son Production.

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