Autobiography

improved dramatically, so what are we doing
still limiting speed to 70 miles an hour on an
empty motorway in the early hours of the
morning? Variable speed limits and common
sense are needed.
I broke the law in my little shop because I
thought it was a stupid law, and I suppose I
was fined around twenty times, but it never
discouraged me. I was young and defiant.
Once I had overcome the trauma of my first
appearance before a magistrate, I was never
going to stop doing what I believed was right.
The first time I was absolutely terrified. I could
hardly answer him when asked whether I was
guilty or not guilty. When I pleaded not guilty
he demanded to know how I could not be
guilty when the shop was open at 9.30 on a
Wednesday evening. It must have sounded as
silly to him as it did to me. But if I hadn’t
appeared so often before the same magistrate
I would never have discovered a way of getting
round the crazy law that was hampering my
business.
‘Not you again, Gold,’ I remember the greyhaired
magistrate barking out as I stepped into
the dock. He had thieves, muggers, and other
serious criminals to deal with and he was
clearly fed up with me taking up his valuable
time. So he surreptitiously gave me this piece
of advice, which would enable me to beat the
system.
‘You wouldn’t have to be here if you sold
newspapers and periodicals,’ he said, realising
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