Shropshire Star

Helicopter technician passes driving test - in a steam roller

A helicopter technician from Shropshire has passed his driving test – in a 1926 steam roller.

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Supporting image for story: Helicopter technician passes driving test - in a steam roller

Tom Sanders, 22, from Lawley, took to the roads around Wolverhampton with an examiner to take his road roller test – category G on the UK driving licence.

The vehicle he used was a 1926 vintage steam engine from the collection of Wolverhampton enthusiast Robert Bate, of Fordhouses.

Mr Sanders said: "I took the test so I could legally drive the steam roller on the road and take it to shows myself. We go to quite a few steam rallies through the year."

He said he had met Mr Bate at the Wolverhampton Steam Fair about eight years ago after initially being introduced to the world of vintage vehicles by his father Paul and grandfather Hubert.

"I'm interested in anything vintage – old cars, tractors, engines," he said. "I was in an organisation called the Steam Apprentice Club, which is part of the National Traction Engine Trust.

"They help get young people into steam engines, teaching people and organising days where you can go and have a go with engines, just to make it interesting and passing on skills. I did that from an early age."

He said his natural interest in mechanical things had led him to gain qualifications in engineering, from which he was able to get a job as a helicopter technician with PDG Helicopters at Halfpenny Green airport, near Bridgnorth.