MY FIRST CAR
Jennifer Coleman Peers
Jennifer Coleman Peers, CEO of Phoenix Dance Theatre in Leeds, says her first vehicle is still the most important one in her life. It’s a Volkswagen camper van which she bought in memory of her parents.
She learned to drive in her native Yorkshire but then moved to London where she didn’t need a car. “I certainly didn’t have room to park one either,” she said.
Only on her return to Yorkshire did she take up driving with a refresher lesson to make sure she still knew how to do it.
“It was strange not driving for so long,” she said. Her parents were adventurous types so when they died she used some of her inheritance to buy a camper van.
“It’s a 1970 model and we love it,” she said. It even played a role in her wedding, where the picture was taken by photographer Abbie Sizer.
“It’s quite difficult to drive but you quickly get used to it,” said Jennifer who grew up in Ilkley.
“My mum especially grew up in the hippy era so I feel she would approve of the camper van. It’s a left-hand drive which makes it even more difficult to drive. It was imported from Arizona and we just love the romance of it.
“But it is a vehicle we have grown very fond of and we love going away in it.
“We call it Harrison. My mum had a thing about Harrison Ford and her car was called Harrison.”
Asked how she felt about rising values of camper vans, she said: “That’s good but I don’t think we are going to sell it anyway.”
She now uses a Volvo for everyday driving but still has the camper for special trips. It’s a C40 and she loves the safety aspects of the car.
Watch out on the Phoenix Dance Theatre website for details of a community tour which will be held in November and December.