Back on the Road with Irene & Brian | Episode 1: Taking the Plunge

Introducing our new Guest Blog!

‘Back on the Road’ follows how a Brotherwood Volkswagen Caddy Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) is changing the lives of Somerset residents, Irene and Brian.

Brian is a wheelchair user and the couple are 80-something-young. They have a Golden Retriever, Barnaby, who will sadly never experience the adventures a Brotherwood WAV makes possible, as he refuses to travel by car.

The blog is written by one of their daughters, and will bring regular updates of how they are rediscovering the joys of spontaneous travel thanks to Brotherwood.

Episode 1: Taking the Plunge

It all started in the car park of a garden centre when Mum noticed a couple taking their son out of the back of a WAV in his wheelchair. This attracted Mum’s attention because Dad is a wheelchair user and, for the last year or so, he’d been unable to transfer into their car. Which meant he couldn’t join in social activities or days out and Mum was doing less too, not wanting to leave Dad at home while she enjoyed herself.

Mum has that gift of being able to chat to anyone, so she asked the couple about their WAV and they were only too happy to tell her all about it. It was a VW Caddy, which they’d bought from Brotherwood. They even let Mum sit in the driver’s seat, so she could see how it compared to her much-loved Freelander. The couple pointed to another Caddy in the car park and said its owners had bought it from Brotherwood too, on the couple’s recommendation.

It was quite the Brotherwood fan club and encouraged Mum to make an appointment at their showroom in Sherborne. Of course, Dad had to stay at home, but Mum went with my sister, Helen. They were under strict instructions to bring back a detailed report for him.

When they arrived, two cars had already been brought out and parked at the front for them to have a good look at. Mum’s a canny consumer, she likes to do her research thoroughly. So, she was pleased to find Marcus the Mobility Consultant had plenty of time to answer their questions, all in the comfort of the warm showroom, with coffee and biscuits.

They talked about Dad and what his needs were, before going through various options and looking at photos of the different sizes and makes of WAV available. They needed something practical for Dad, that was also manageable for Mum to drive and operate. The VW Caddy (compact to drive but with so much space inside, it’s basically a Tardis on wheels) looked like the perfect fit.

Mum and Helen were also given a tour of the workshop, so they could see how the conversions are done. It was a shame Dad couldn’t be there as he’d have been fascinated by the engineering and attention to detail, but the next best thing was a home visit by Brotherwood, so he could see the VW Caddy for himself.

Once again, Mum and Dad were impressed with the time Marcus took to demonstrate the car and its features, as well as answering all their questions. They went through the loading and unloading of Dad in his wheelchair, and let Mum and Dad have a go for themselves. They even went for a test drive, although Mum was a bit too nervous to drive it herself this time.

By now, Mum and Dad had only one question left – how quickly can you get us one?!

In the next instalment of Back on the Road, Irene and Brian take delivery of their new VW Caddy…

Back on the Road with Irene & Brian | Episode 1: Taking the Plunge

12 February 2025

Want to know more about the experience of buying a Brotherwood WAV? Read our blog about the adventures of a couple in their 80s as they get to grips with [...]

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