The first half of the 1940s saw the Marina plant virtually shut down due to wartime problems. The workers there survived on scraps, while others moved to blitz-hit Dagenham to find jobs.

What are you currently driving? My daily workhorse is a BMW 520D, solid and reliable and almost a complete contrast to my classic 1971 Triumph TR6 PI, last of the traditional two-seater British Sportscars, in every respect.