A COVENTRY octogenarian has been reunited with an iconic 1948 electric scooter made by her father in his garden shed.
On Friday (January 26), Charlie Ridley’s daughter, Margaret, now 82, was reunited with the family heirloom at Coventry Transport Museum.
Margaret’s niece, Laura Quirke, arranged for a surprise gathering at the venue.
Charlie worked in Coventry’s motor trade industry.
He used the shed at the bottom of his Cheylesmore garden to invent and build vehicles from old scrap.
Among these items was a battery-powered scooter which he managed to get registered and road-worthy.
The scooter could ramp up speeds of 30mph and Charlie would use it to get to and from work as well as give rides to his children.
In 1979, after Charlie died, his widow donated the scooter and other items to Coventry Transport Museum ahead of its opening the following year.
It has been with the museum, mostly in storage, ever since.
Margaret said: “I was expecting a family gathering, but I felt it was going to be something special as it’s a work day.
“But I hadn’t a clue it was for this- I’m amazed someone has been able to find it.
“I could identify it as something my father made at the bottom of the garden in the shed he used to go and hide in.
“We all took turns in having a ride on the back.
“It was a labour of love for my father, he was making stuff all the time.”
Niece Laura added: “I was in the Transport Museum three or so years ago when Coventry was City of Culture.
“It reminded me of a story where my grandmother donated an engine to a museum and I started asking questions.
“Last year I spoke to Megan at the museum who confirmed they had the engine and this electric motorbike and she sent me a picture.
“Then it seemed like a natural thing to do to reunite Margaret with it.”
