Meet Keats

I wouldn't normally name a car, but our various Minis have always had a name. So why Keats? Well our first Mini , a red BMW 'One', went on the Italian Job charity rally and I set up a fundraising page called 'Camp Freddie', being the name of a character in the Italian Job movie. The name stuck.

When the One was replaced by a Cooper S that naturally became Charlie (Michael Caine's lead); and then our third Mini, a Clubman Cooper S, being slightly bigger and more stately, is Noel Coward's Mr Bridger.

Now well done if you're getting the connection for Keats. For why Keats, for why? As we're obviously still keeping Mr Bridger as the day-to-day and wet weather car, the new/old Mini is Bridger's sidekick in prison, Keats.

We've talked about getting an original shape Mini ever since that Italian Job Rally. Which was about 10 years ago. So we've taken our time. Originally a Rover Mini Neon, it's had the bigger 1275 Cooper engine dropped in, a gorgeous paintjob, and bits an bobs of updates. But it's still a Mini - rattly, noisy, and an absolute hoot to drive. Looking forward to getting out on some little roads tomorrow.

Oh, and fits in the garage. Not many cars would.