Kent’s 87-year-old Marion still farming thanks to rugged mobility scooters

Marion Pont, 87 from Ashford in Kent, is continuing to run her sheep farm with the help of two mobility scooters – including a 20-year-old TGA Supersport.

Marion has lived on her family farm for over 70 years. First owned by her parents, this 70-acre holding in Bethersden has reared milking cows, grown crops and now breeds sheep. With the help of her sister-in-law and nephew, Marion tends to 80 lambing sheep using her trusty mobility scooters. One of which, built over two decades ago, is a rugged motorcycle-style Supersport. Alongside a TGA Breeze GT which she has just acquired, these scooters are Marion’s only means of remaining mobile around the farm. Without them she would not be able to tend to her flock, mend fences or carry feed. Through powerful performance and a strong design, Marion’s original three-wheel Supersport has never let her down. Always “plastered in mud”, this remarkable machine keeps delivering freedom on the farm.

The Supersport is a popular model of choice with members of the Disabled Ramblers Association through its off-road capabilities and range. It has large wheels which can tackle mud, grass and rocky tracks with consistent traction and excellent manoeuvrability. These features mean Marion is able to access all of her farm throughout the year and regularly drives several miles a day.

Marion explains: “I call my Supersport my tractor and my new Breeze my Rolls Royce. I couldn’t farm without them. For years now, my Supersport has helped me transport tons of stuff including feed, tools and logs. I can get around the house but walking further is impossible. When you’ve worked on a farm all your life, doing heavy work, your muscles get worn out. It’s tricky standing up straight these days which means I can’t see the beautiful countryside when I walk. Not on my Supersport, I can sit upright and see it all.

As Marion is dependent on her Supersport for independence, her youngest nephew suggested she purchased a back-up scooter for peace of mind. Despite her original scooter never breaking down even with intense use, they both thought it wise to contact TGA to see what they would recommend. A Breeze S4 GT was recommended, with extra wide rear wheels and a powerful motor, which now gives Marion an equally competent scooter for farm life.

Marion continues: “I go out on my scooter three times a day to keep things in order. It gets me into the tightest of spaces and being a three-wheeler, steering is easy. When I got my Breeze, I found the comfort and stability great, the steering does take a bit more effort as a four-wheeler, however the ride is very smooth. I’m afraid to get it dirty! It looks so lovely which is okay at the minute as the ground is so dry. Come the winter though it will be caked in mud like my Supersport. I was so lucky that Shaun from TGA came just before the lockdown with my new scooter, he was a fantastic chap. I haven’t been away from the farm in three months due to the virus, so having two scooters at home has kept my freedom intact. I’m glad my other nephew convinced me to get another one.”