My first car … Alyth McCormack

WHEN my husband once asked me the question, “What was your first car?” I answered “green” so clued up was I on such things, however I believe it was a green Rover Mini Metro. It was a gift from my parents; I was a struggling musician. My granny passed away and they had been left some money and bought it for me as they were worried about all the travelling I was doing, often at odd hours, relying on public transport, hire cars and lifts from other musicians. I had it for about four years – the poor thing was in shock after the first. It had belonged to the mother of a car dealer in Stornoway who would drive it into town and back for her “messages”. In its first ten years it had only done 10,000 miles, in its 11th year it did another 10,000.

My least favourite thing about it was the immobiliser – that was a well-named device. I once had to be relayed from Glenfinnan to Oban for a gig as the car was immobile but only because a wire had come loose in the key fob! Although my granny was more a lover of food than cars, because of the way I received the car, this little vehicle always reminded me of her. «

Alyth McCormack is performing in Dogstar Theatre’s show The Captain’s Collection, which is touring Scotland until 25 May, including An Lanntair, Stornoway, on Tuesday; Rosehall Village Hall by Lairg on Wednesday; Eastgate Theatre, Peebles, on Thursday; Woodend Barn, Banchory, on Friday; and the Tolbooth, Stirling, on Saturday. www.dogstartheatre.co.uk