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Dear Dorothy

In 1946 Dorothy Peters started working at Land Rover’s Solihull factory. Just 15, she found herself in the service department as the first Series Land Rovers were built. Last year, Dorothy went to the 70th anniversary celebrations in Solihull, taking with her a photo album of her time at the plant. One particular picture led to an emotional reunion.

Mike Bishop, Land Rover Classic’s Reborn Engineering Specialist and heritage expert, spotted an old photograph of Dorothy posing next to number 16 – a car he now owns. It was at this point the Land Rover team decided to create an experience Dorothy would never forget.

When I was approached by a very charming lady with some pictures of her time at Solihull, I had no idea we would share a special connection to ‘number 16’. Her enthusiasm for the company and this vehicle in particular was wonderful, as was her surprise when she discovered I now owned the car! I knew instantly we needed to reunite them.

Mike Bishop
Land Rover Reborn Engineering Specialist

The Land Rover team at Solihull created a day full of surprises, bringing her back to Solihull and to the car she had posed with in the treasured photo 70 years earlier.

I had no idea this one conversation would take me on a journey down memory lane and on the wonderful off-road track at Solihull. It all felt like a dream and I won’t ever forget it.

Dorothy Peters

To complete the surprise, Dorothy and her friends were given a preview of the reunion film in a special screening at Dorothy’s retirement home.