BACK in 1964, teenager Vicky Simpson was the only girl learning motor vehicle technology and electrical installation at Burnley Municipal College.

And when her classroom studies with the boys were ended for the day, she went off to work as a petrol pump attendant.

Sixteeen-year-old Vicky was the only female apprentice in motor mechanics in the Burnley area at the time.

But her three-year course was about to come to an end and she planned to work full-time at her parents’ garage.

Harry and Dorothy Simpson were joint owners of the garage firm and they were going to give Vicky the same training as any other apprentice.

She would begin her working life with six months in the lubrication department, before starting work on the garage floor.

Her mum commented: “We have no sons so we had to get one of the girls interested in the business and Vicky thoroughly enjoys it.”

Her young sister, Alex, however, who then attended Towneley Technical High School had no wish to follow in her footsteps and wanted to be a teacher.

The firm was started by Ernest Simpson just after the First World war and his son, Harry, and his wife took over the reins in 1961.

Harry had started work at the garage in Bank Parade, Burnley, when he was 15.

In the sixties, Simpson’s was completely modernised with new showrooms and workshops and one particular feature was its rooftop car park.

It was reached via a ramp and the public used to be able to park there when going into town.

To solve the problem of ice and snow in winter, it was planned to lay underground heating pipes, to prevent slips and skids.