Water Beetle

Sir,

Your “Tailpiece” in May’s Motor Sport might now convert my doubting Thomas’s to whom I related an acquatic experience which befell me.

One evening in June or July, five to six years ago, I was travelling in my VW, which has covered over 300,000 miles, from Southampton to Weymouth and encountered a cloud burst in the vicinity of Bere Regis and all along the B.3390 water was pouring out of fields into cottages and filling up dips in the road. On high ground I was able to speed and somewhere in the region of Osmington I saw in my headlights what seemed to me to be a man standing in water just over his ankle’s. He was frantically waving. Immediately I slowed, when whoosh, water hit my windscreen and before I realised what was happening I floated past him, my momentum taking me to high ground. beyond.

The man was standing on the top of his submerged Austin Seven!!!

There is a lot more to this tale; suffice it to say that without the all-steel bottom of my car I should have been submerged beside the Austin. I pay tribute to the garage owner at Osmington Mill who threw open his garage all night for all the stranded motorists.

I am, Yours, etc.,

Hayle. – S. R. Stock, Major. Rtd.