Scots gran passes test to drive 32 tonne lorries after birthday surprise

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Scots gran has passed her test to drive lorries weighing up to 32 tonnes, much to the surprise of her loved ones. Former office worker Ann Skinner delighted her family with the news after after they arranged ‘a wee shot’ at driving an articulated lorry as a surprise 70th birthday present.

But after driving circuits and figures of eight on a piece of private ground in Inverness, the 71-year-old was hooked. Now she is clear to drive trucks around the country after gaining a Long Goods Vehicle (LGV) licence.Ann said: “I was always saying to my family when I was out in the car how I admired truckers doing the job they do, and it was arranged as a surprise to let me have a go.“I really enjoyed it, and I later phoned Dave MacKintosh, my instructor on that day, and asked if he thought I could pass my test in one.“He said he saw no reason why not, but first I would have to pass a medical and sit theory tests to get my provisional licence.”Because of Covid-19, it took about nine months to get the initial clearances to start LGV intensive training with Inverness firm MD Fiddes Training, including five four-hour sessions during which time she took the artic out on the open road.“My instructor, Cameron Cumming, was quite hard on me and made no allowances for age, and why should he?” Ann added.There came a stumbling block however that debarred Ann, from Hilton, Ross-shire, from progressing on the articulated lorry.Slightly built and 5ft 1in tall, Ann could not unhitch the tractor unit from the trailer, a vital part of the test.She recalled: “I didn’t have the physical strength to remove the kingpin by hand, so I went forward to pass my test on a rigid truck, and I am now the delighted holder of a LGV Class C licence which I passed