George, 100, clocks up 85 years' motoring without causing an accident ... and he's never taken a driving test



A motorist aged 100 has notched up 85 years behind the wheel without ever causing an accident or taking a driving test.



Grandfather George Geeson has clocked up a million miles over the years and is in is such good health the DVLA has now extended his licence by three years.

The pensioner, who received a telegram from the Queen on his birthday yesterday, first took to the road in a Model T Ford in 1925 and bought his first car for two pounds and ten shillings (£2.50).

George Geeson, 100, has been granted an extension to his driving licence after 85 years behind the wheel - and without ever taking a formal test

Vintage: George Geeson's first car, a Willis Overland Whipett, pictured in 1935. He has clocked up a million miles on Britain's roads

The former garage owner, who claims to have been driving longer than anyone else in the UK, said the licence extension was on a par with the monarch's recognition of his milestone.



'When I first started driving there was no test, you just got on with it,' he said.



'I was very lucky because a gentleman in the village used to let me drive his Model T Ford. I am the longest continuous driver in the country and I'm very proud to have made it to 100 without having caused an accident.



'In many ways receiving the extension to my license is just as important as the telegram from the Queen.



'I haven't got any medical problems and my eyesight is fine so I'd like to keep going for as long as I'm in good health. I don't want to predict how much longer I can carry on driving but hopefully for a good while yet.'



Mr Geeson first drove at the age of 15.



GEORGE'S CARS

1925 - he first drove a Model T Ford

He owned:

1935 - blue Willys-Overland Whippet

1937 - black Ford 8 saloon

1939 - black Ford Anglia 'standard'

1940 - blue Buick Special saloon

1941 - grey eight-seater Humber Pullman

1941 - grey Model A Ford

1953 - green Ford Popular

1959 - green with white top Ford Consul

1963 - Ford Consul

1965 - dark blue Jaguar 3.8 S-type

1970 - green Chrysler Valiant

1974 - dark blue Triumph Spitfire1500

1976 - blue Austin Maxi

1980 - green Austin 1100

1984 - Austin 1100

1997 - red Peugeot Diesel 306

2001 - red Peugeot 106

He bought his first car, a Wyllis-Overland Whippet, 10 years later.



In the past 85 years, he has only ever been involved in one accident - when another motorist shunted into the back of him in the pouring rain in 1958.



He now lives with his disabled wife Viola, 97, in South Witham, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, and has three grandchildren.

His son Robert, 63, a retired thatcher, said all his favourite cars had been manufactured by Ford.

He opened the Fox Garage on the A1 in Lincolnshire with his brother Leonard in 1932 when it was still known as the Great North Road.



'We owned a car showroom selling Austin and Ford cars until 1965 so after that I drove a lot of Ford cars,' he said.



He now drives a red Peugeot 106 and clocks up an average of 20 miles every week travelling to his local shops.



He received the extension to his driving licence last week after filling in a form sent to him by the DVLA.



Because he still has 'excellent' eyesight and no medical problems he is legally entitled to continue driving.



According to the DVLA, 137 people over the age of 100 currently hold a driving licence.



A spokesman said: 'Anyone who passes all the medical requirements can be granted an extension of three years.'



The driving test became compulsory 75 years ago. Anyone granted a licence prior to this was not obliged to take the test.



A spokesman for the Driving Standards Authority (DSA) said: 'There would be drivers of a certain age who are driving and who wouldn't have taken the test.'



Mr Geeson is expecting 160 people to attend his birthday party on Sunday.

