Grandad becomes Britain’s oldest driver at the grand old age of 103

A former ice cream seller and milkman is believed to be Britain’s oldest driver – at the ripe old age of 103.

Giovanni Rozzo has been driving for more than eight decades and says has no intention of hanging up his car keys.

Amazingly, the grandfather-of-four from Cambridge has only ever had two speeding fines and one parking ticket during his staggering motoring career.

And he insists he has never had caused damage to another motorist or had an accident.

After losing his beloved wife Anna Maria last year, Giovanni drives daily to visit her grave, and regularly pops to the shops in his trusty blue 23-year-old Mitsubishi Lancer.

He said: “I’ve been driving since I was 20.

“I was a clerk in the Italian army at the time so I started driving military vehicles in Italy before I came to England, and then drove my van for many, many years.

“I am still fit, and my eyesight is good, and I feel confident as a driver, so I hope I will carry on driving.

“I have been driving for such a long time around the area that I don’t find the traffic a problem.

“I’ve never had a crash.

“I had one parking fine in my ice cream van because another ice cream seller told the police.

“I have never caused an accident when driving, although other people have hit my car.

“I have a dent in my boot caused by a van recently.

“I was fined twice for speeding, but that was many, many years ago and I was driving all day every day for many miles. My licence is clean now.”

Giovanni drove for more than 20 years in Italy on an Army licence before taking a formal UK driving test in 1953 after moving to the country.

Giovanni’s granddaughter Shelly Adams, 37, said: “He is a bit of a passionate driver. He goes quite fast.

“I don’t know anyone else that age or generation who still drives.

“He goes to the cemetery every day, and then often goes to the delicatessen and runs errands.

“He doesn’t drive when it’s dark or on motorways.”

In his late 30s, Giovanni married the love of his life, Anna Maria, when she was 26.

After years as clerk in the Italian army, the pair then came to Britain in the early 1950s to look for work and moved to Cambridge in 1956.

He began his career as a train driver for British Rail for six years, before working as a milkman for the Co-operative.

He said: “I became a milkman because it was better pay.

“I had to drive a big lorry to Essex, Norfolk and all around.

“The traffic was very easy back then. In my time you would see one or two cars on the roads. Now there is too much traffic. There are so many cars on the roads.”

In 1962 Giovanni was awarded a diploma from The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in celebration of his license being ‘free from accidents’.

He then established a successful ice cream-selling business, running six vans in and around Cambridge.

Giovanni said: “I sold ice cream for 27 years. I spent 18 years parked outside Kings College in Cambridge, so I know a lot of people.

“I retired when I was 82. I got £7-a-week more because I retired late.”

In 2005, Giovanni was honoured by the Italian government by being made a cavaliere, the Italian equivalent of a knighthood, for his services heading up a number of Italian organisations in the UK.

He helped fellow Italians in Cambridge and Bedford, to fill forms and write correspondence, and offered them advice on issues such as passports and pensions.

His beloved wife Anna-Maria passed away last year, leaving her husband, three children and four grandchildren.

She regularly used to accompany her husband in their car as a passenger, and still drove herself into her 80s.

Giovanni said: “I miss her very much, but I am well enough to look after myself.

“I cook for myself and do everything. We have had a wonderful life since we came to England, and to Cambridge.”

The 103-year-old now lives on his own, grows his own vegetables and drives his J-reg Mitsubishi Lancer around Cambridge, daily.

He said: “It may be 23-years-old but it’s a very good car. Everything works perfectly.”

And he hopes to carry on driving for a good many years – his licence is valid until 2018.
The minimum age to hold a car driving licence is 17, or 16 for some people claiming mobility benefit, but there is no upper age limit.

From the age of 70, motorists must renew their license every three years.

They do not have to re-take a test, but they do have to make a medical declaration about their state of health, and must meet a minimum eyesight requirement.

Figures published by the AA say the number of older drivers on the roads has been increasing steadily and this is expected to continue. By 2030 more than 90 per cent of men over 70 will be behind the wheel.