In 1913, bicycle manufacturer William Morris opened his first Morris Motors factory at the former Oxford Military College at Cowley, Oxford.
It was that year that Morris’s first car, the two-seat Morris Oxford Bullnose, was assembled.
Further north, still in 1913, Adam Craigmile of Westhill was born.
Neither of them knew it at the time but Adam and the Morris marque would have a connection for the next 100 years.
It was at the age of eight that Adam was first introduced to Morris Motors when his father bought a 1920 Morris Oxford while they were still living at Broadstraik Inn in Westhill.
After the farm was sold in 1927, Adam and his family made several moves before settling down at Colquonnie Hotel, Strathdon, where he met wife-to-be Zena, who was in the land army.
It was here Adam’s dad bought their next car, a 1931 Morris Isis-six.
Adam’s son, Adam jun, said: “The car had running boards like Al Capone’s car and a spare wheel on the front mud guard, huge headlights, a sun roof and a rear rack for trunks.
“They would have got the car in the early Thirties and it was a limousine. It was used as a taxi from the hotel. So if the Laird, Wallace of Candercraig, phoned up and said I need to go to the station, they would take him in this limousine.
“Also a life was saved by Isis when Zele Forbes, daughter of another Laird, had to be rushed into hospital with appendicitis and that lady still thanks my dad for saving her life.
“The Isis went through the war years and petrol rationing and my dad inherited in 1944 and ran it until 1957.”
Adam sen then bought a 1957 Morris J2 Minibus, which he made into a mobile shop to serve the outlying areas. By this time they had a shop in Aberdeen.
But it wasn’t just his father Adam who had a fondness for the Morris marque.
Adam’s mother also had a liking for them and her Morris Minor was the first of three the couple would eventually own.
“The first one my mum bought because she was a social worker in Banchory and they lived in Maryculter so she needed an economical and reliable car”, Adam jun said.
“They then bought another one and then my dad bought the last one, which he still has, a 1970 Morris Minor, which is sitting in the garage at Westhill.
“He must have had it now coming on 40 years. He bought it in the 1970s, not new. It is in good condition because it hasn’t done a lot of miles as he had another car to run about it and the Morris has maintained by his cousin at the Westhill Garage.”
For more than nine decades Adam sen has been a fan of the Morris Motor but I have to ask him, why?
Adam sen, who celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year, said: “I think it is just a fine comfortable car. They were well cushioned and always made a good body as well. I always liked the design of them and they were easy to drive as I did up to the age of 93.
“I think if I had to choose a favourite, it would be the Morris Isis – that was a really nice car. It was a big car as well, it had 20 horsepower 2.5-litre six-cylinder engine long stroke to reduce road tax at this time, a high standard coach built Sedan, press steel American Budd body on a strong chassis and wire spoke wheels.
“It was the first car to have a chrome radiator and Lucas lights.
“They have definitely improved over the years, I will say that but I’ve always enjoyed driving them.
“The biggest change was from a chassis construction to the Monocoque body.
“I liked the Morris Minors very much, that’s why I just stuck to them. They were easy to fix yourself and the spares were cheap and easy to find.
“As a heritage vehicle the road tax is zero and the insurance with NFU is just over £100 and no depreciation with the car.
“Many people smile as you go by because they can relate to them as previous owners or they past their test in one.”
In 1992 Adam sen decided to share his interest with other enthusiasts in the area by co-founding the Scotland North East Morris Minor Owner’s Club, which holds an annual rally as well as other events throughout the year.
“The good thing about the club was dad went on all the rallies, at least half a dozen rallies a year,” Adam jun said.
“Now that he does not drive, club members are insured to drive him and his car round the circuit of local rallies.
“Him and mum went to all the rallies and it was a great social thing. His friends have always helped him with his cars as well.”
Over the years Adam sen has received a number of awards for his cars – and this year was no different.
In the summer at Garioch Vehicle Restoration Society’s 49th annual rally at Oldmeldrum Pleasure Park, more than 20 awards were given out to proud car owners.
The Ben Groat Award, however, went to honorary society member Mr Adam Craigmile who was present to accept the committee-selected award, where it was noted that he was only beaten on the field in age by entry number one, a 1912 Austin Wellington.