General Chat

She drove vehicles during W2, Pat, and I am pretty certain that you sat no test and kept your driving licence after the war.

Like she does not have to have a number plate on her car, I think the queen, because of her position, just does not have to have a driving licence.

Maybe the licences are all issued in her name or something.

You are right, Sharron. I've just googled and Hello Magazine states that the Queen does not need a driving licence even though licences are issued in her name.

Perhaps something to do with 'the Queen's highways?' (Not checked that though.)

Apparently Driving Licences were suspended during WW2 & the Suez Crisis. No doubt, if people learnt to drive during those periods, they were expected to apply afterwards. People could have easily not bothered.

The next question would be - when did it become an offence to drive without a licence?? It wouldn't be a problem if the person stayed off the public roads.

Without googling, I have no idea when it became an offence, Det, but you are right about driving and public roads,

My children drove on unsealed, non-public roads and driveways from the age of 13 or 14.

Driving licences were not suspended during ww2 or Suez but driving tests were halted. The licenses, for commercial vehicles anyway, were issued without a test.
Lots of people got army licences which they were able to convert to civil license.

Petrol and diesel were tightly rationed which led to all kinds of shenanigans even Noel Coward was prosecuted.

Before the EU driving abroad meant getting a grey permit from the AA / RAC and ins. Green sticker. This was expensive. Post brexit we will back to surly French flics demanding papers...

I had to look up licences, as I knew my Cornish gran drove, but she said she'd never passed a test :-S
This is what it says:
"In 1903, the government responded to the car’s newfound popularity by bringing in the Motor Car Act. As well as introducing vehicle registration and increasing the speed limit, the act was most notable for introducing the first British driving licences. There was no need to take a test - anyone over the age of 17 could get a licence just by applying to their local council. The first driving licence was available for just five shillings (or 25p—equivalent to roughly £28 today). Unlike today’s licences, you had to renew every year."

"In 1934, driving tests were introduced for the first time. Existing drivers were allowed to carry on driving without needing to take the new test, but anyone who started driving from April 1st, 1934 had to pass by June 1935. Whilst testing was temporarily suspended during the Second World War and the Suez Crisis, it’s been with us ever since"

I have ten paper licences issued between 1919 and 1929. by a town council and no restrictions laid out.,,,,,they came in an auction buy years ago.

Sharron is absolutely correct that Queen Elizabeth does not need a driving licence because she is the Queen of England she is often seen driving her land rover round her estates but never drives on the main public roads she always has to be accompanied by her protection directives and as she Queen she is Chauffeured.

Also Sharron is correct her car does not have to have a number plate. :-D

As Princess Elizabeth she would have had one as it would be King George V1 who wouldn't have to have a licence.

It's a technicality like her passport all the rest of the royals have a passport. You can't issue to yourself in your name ;-)

One rule for the rich and one for the poor!
Always the blooming same isn't it.? The famous ones get away with just about anything these days, murder probably with a good lawyer.
For goodness sak, why didn't he just own up and pay the fine. £40 would feed me for 2 weeks but to him, just a new wooley hat probably!


We all know the speed limits because of the signs.

Sorry but there is no excuse.
We have had this discussion before me thinks!

Florence in the hebrides ;-)

As I said early yesterday morning, Florence, the tardiness of the police is to blame.

I agree, it would have been cheaper to pay the fine but perhaps it would have meant too many points to keep his licence.

A man who thinks his chance of being knighted has gone methinks?

I personally think that awards should be reserved for the ordinary hard working folk who go out of their way to help others.

I mean I like Rod Stewart but why should he get a knighthood for making millions of pounds from the public who buy his music.


People who do charity work and not boast or make a thing of it and get on with it quietly, they re the ones who deserve recognition but we hardly hear about thm do we!

Sorry gone off topic!

Florence in the hebrides

Agreed, Florence.

I think awards ought to be handed out only for bravery, such as life-saving under arduous conditions, eg putting one's own life at risk.

Awards ARE handed out to 'unknowns', probably more than the famous. We just don't hear about them unless they are local to us and they are assumed of no interest by the media due to lack of 'celebrity'. The famous don't get awards simply because they are famous. Awards aren't about bravery either they are for services for the community and country.

Yes Island, the lists show that. Two of those unknowns have been my rellies (one very close).

In the scheme of things they deserved their awards more than some, I would say.

There are forms to fill in and letters to write if you want to recommend someone for an award. I recall seeing some when I worked - a few I knew were honoured.

I still think that awards ought to be restricted though and for me, bravery stands head-and-shoulders above anything else.

Yes Joy, a local lady here was nominated for service to the community and received a MBE.
MBEs etc aren't bravery awards, those are gallantry awards which are given to civilians.

I just don't hold with the system, Island.

There are people with whom I've worked and whom I like who have received MBEs and OBEs - so I know they are not given for bravery.

I think it is an antiquated system due for an overhaul - if not dispensed with altogether.

For me, they have become 'ten-a-penny' when you see some of the awards handed out to people such as pop stars, footballers, etc.

Bravery (gallantry as you wrote) stands out for me every time.

It is alleged that such human rewards mean a lot to many on this earth but little or nothing at all in the afterlife.

Nevertheless, it is pleasing when well-respected individuals receive some recognition for achievements over & above normal expectations.

Hedging my bets here, Dermot, and erring on the side of possibilities to say that your first sentence could well prove to be right. ;-)