Classic Lotus revs up cherished memories for former mechanic at Bridge House

A former Lotus mechanic was transported back in time as he reunited with a classic car, thanks to the efforts of the team at Bridge House Care Home.

Peter Lean worked at Lotus in Hornsey, London, from 1956 to 1958, and was an integral part of the team that built iconic models, including the Lotus 7, from scratch.

The team arranged for Robert Jacobs, who owns a championship-winning race car, to bring his beloved Lotus to the home to surprise Peter.

“I was so happy to see the car and be able to touch it again,” said Peter.

“It was very emotional actually because I never thought I’d get to see one of these amazing machines again.

“I have such fond memories of those times and reliving them thanks to the home and the people at Caterham and Lotus Seven Club was a wonderful experience.”

During his time at Lotus, where he worked six days a week, Peter even had the opportunity to work alongside racing legend Graham Hill, who remains the only driver to complete motor racing’s hallowed triple crown, winning the Monaco Grand Prix, Le Mans 24 and Indianapolis 500.

Joined by his family and some of his own photos and memorabilia from his time at Lotus, Peter and Robert spent the day sharing stories about their passion for Lotus cars.

Riverly club and lifestyles manager, Chantelle Merritt, who organised the visit from the Lotus 7 outlined the impact it had on Peter.

“The mere mention of Lotus brings a sparkle to Peter’s eyes, and seeing a Lotus car in front of him again brought back a flood of emotions. It was a truly special moment for Peter and everyone involved.

“The moment Peter laid eyes on the car, he was overwhelmed with joy. He just couldn’t believe it because he didn’t think he’d get to touch one again.

“I was delighted to be able to organise this visit for Peter, who is such a popular man at our home and is so proud of his time at Lotus.

Care home manager Marta Leszko concluded: “We are always looking for ways for our residents to engage in their passions in life and Peter is always sharing stories about his time at Lotus with residents and the team.

“It’s so important for our residents to not only relive past memories but also to create new ones and that’s something we’re really passionate about.”