A stylish Antique Carriage?

Image taken from the Coalville Times, 16th September 1960.

On Saturday the 10th of September 1960, Miss Valerie Constance Lake was married at St Helen’s Church, Ashby de la Zouch to Lieut. Moodie Emmerson Braun Jnr., a native of Arizona and an officer in the American Airforce. The mode of transport for the bride to the church and from it to the reception was somewhat unusual in that it was a 1920’s vintage, open top, bright yellow Ford convertible which, prior to that day, had led a sheltered and seldom used life in the possession of brother and sister Joseph and Sarah Jackson of Coleorton. Sarah had pre-deceased her brother by some years and Joseph had continued living on alone in the area of Coleorton known as The Rowlands in November Cottage and the former Queens Head Inn, both of which he owned, until his death at the age of 81 in the previous January. Joseph or ‘Jodie ‘as he was known was also known to be careful with his money, his tweed jacket worn through to the elbows and the toes of his shoes also worn out. His home it has to be said left much to be desired in terms of tidiness or cleanliness, but it was a time capsule comprising bygones of another age, including carefully preserved clothing dating from Victorian times, which had belonged to his parents, and ancient embroidered patchwork quilts and bedspreads one of which bearing the date of 1814. Outside, in a tumbledown garage, was stored the ancient vehicle which now conveyed the bride and groom to the delight of the watching crowds of towns people. Prior to this day it had travelled only 8000 miles in 40 years on occasional visits to Ashby. The car had been acquired by Armson’s Garage of Ashby following Joseph Jackson’s death, and on its big outing ran smoothly along on its original tyres and spark plugs.

Just a two days later, on September the 12th 1960 the MOT test was introduced in the UK for all vehicles over 10 years old, I have no record of whether this venerable machine passed first time or not!

Terry Ward
Research Officer, Coleorton Heritage Group
February 2026

Coleorton Baptist Church on the Rowlands is now a private residence.

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