Editor:
I have driven up and down Oxford for over 50 years with no qualms. Sunday, however, in rainy conditions I got into trouble. Half way up Oxford, my car started to hydroplane and I could not get the traction to proceed further. In my mirror I could see several cars coming up behind me.
I was stuck.
Quite panicked at this point, I applied my emergency brake and put the car in park, and hoped the brake would hold while I got out of the car and signalled for help.
The car directly behind me passed me, and parked in one of the few available driveways and its driver came and kindly offered to try to get the car to Thrift.
He could not get traction either, and offered to back my car down. He backed it a considerable way, round the roundabout, onto Upper Roper where I, still shaking, felt confident driving it down to Marine and finding a gentler way home.
I did not have the wits at the time to ask my Good Samaritan’s name, nor get his phone number. I know I thanked him, but not to the extent I would have had I not been so shaken.
Whoever you are, I am extremely grateful to you. Your kindness, plus your grit and fortitude in tackling the hill in tricky conditions makes you a real hero. I do not know what I could have done without your kind assistance. Thank you very, very much.
M. Clark, Surrey