Land Rover celebrates 60 years

Land Rover is celebrating its golden jubilee this year: cue a book. 'Born in Lode Lane' is no ordinary manufacturer tome, however.

For one thing, it's by Roger Crathorne, who was born in Lode Lane, a mile from the Land Rover factory in Solihull, and began working there in 1963.

He even beat the first Land Rover into the world by a year: he was born in 1947, but the first car did not appear until the Amsterdam motor show on April 30, 1948.

This is a far more readable book than those which focus on the minutiae of engines and production figures. Its anecdotal style captures a quintessentially British company through the eyes of a man who has been there for 45 years, through good times and bad.

'Born in Lode Lane' by Roger Crathorne with Gavin Green is available from www.landrovergear.com and costs 12.50. All proceeds will go to the British Red Cross.