Frank Walker retired from the States this week after 18 years’ service, for the last three years as Chief Minister.

Asked what his profession was now, he suggested ‘A has-been’. Now he has a little more time on his hands, he says that he would like to spend some of it driving in the Swiss mountains with his wife, Fiona.

Although no longer in the States’ driving seat, he also took time to contribute to our ‘In the Driving Seat’ feature.

Where and when did you pass your test, and how many times did you take it?
I passed it in Jersey when I was 17. I took it only once. I had been driving for quite some time before I turned 17. We had a huge area at the back of our house because my father was a grower and we used to drive around the greenhouses. My father had a really nice Rover. I once overdid it on one corner, ploughed through a hedge and ended up in a rockery.

Your first car?
A hard-top Triumph Herald. The second car I had was a soft-top Triumph Vitesse. It was an absolute load of rubbish. It had customised paint work and it was an absolutely gorgeous looking car but it was a heap of rubbish to drive.

Your favourite car?
A bright red Fiat 124 coupé sports car that was a young man’s dream. I loved the shape of it. I used to take it to France and drive way above the speed limit. It was a fantastic car and a great ‘pulling’ car.

Your worst car?
That Triumph Vitesse.

Your current car?
A Mercedes 500 CLK, which is a lovely car. It’s a soft-top and I think it is the ideal car for Jersey. It is not too big, very comfortable and handles a bit like a go-kart. It’s a superb car to drive and I have always loved having a soft-top, especially when we used to have summers.

Dream car?
Something like an Aston Martin DB9.

Favourite road or drive?
I have two favourite drives in Jersey. One is the Five Mile Road and the other is a little road that goes from Rosel Manor down towards St Catherine. You get a wonderful sweeping view from Anne Port to St Catherine and out to sea towards the Ecréhous and France beyond. It is just fantastic. Elsewhere, it is probably the autoroute west of Paris that goes through Tours and towards Rouen. It is normally uncrowded and it is a delight to drive on. It is a great way to head down to the south of France or towards the ski slopes.

Do you have any motorsport heroes or interests?
My current hero is Lewis Hamilton, for sure. I used to drive a go-kart occasionally, but never very well. One of the best days I had was when I took three of my children to Jonathan Palmer’s circuit in England. We got to drive seven different cars – racing cars, go-karts, off-road cars. We drove on skid pans and we did just about everything you can think of. It was very competitive, so you can imagine how mortified my two sons and I felt when my daughter came out on top.

Are you a good driver?
Of course. Fiona doesn’t think so, but she doesn’t dare say so! She just hangs on in the passenger seat. I am a much better driver than she is.

Do you have anydriving ambitions?
I would like to become a taxi driver, then I would know how to run the Island properly. I would also like to spend more time driving in the mountains in Switzerland. In terms of competitive driving, no I don’t have any ambitions.

What do you always take with you on a long journey?
Fiona.

Who would your preferred passenger by on a long journey?
Fiona, and if she was busy, Liz Hurley – for the view.

What makes you angry when you are driving?
A lady driver who was driving along Victoria Avenue yesterday in the outside lane at a steady 25 miles an hour. There was a lorry in the inside lane, so the whole road was blocked. But I think generally people drive well in Jersey. They certainly drive better than in some parts of the world that I have driven.

Have you ever had a crash?
Yes, but thankfully nothing too dramatic. I had my first crash a week after I passed my test. That was the most serious one. Other than that, it’s just been minor scrapes. I lost half a wing mirror to a parish dustcart a couple of weeks ago – that didn’t make me too happy.’

What do you listen to when you are driving?
Something like Il Divo or G4.

How would you improve Jersey’s roads?
They are not bad, actually. One of my pet hates is unnecessary road signs. I think that in some parts of the Island we have followed the UK and have put up totally superfluous road signs. For example, going down the hill from where I live into St Aubin, there is a sign that says there are bends for half a mile. The speed you travel at in Jersey, you don’t need to be warned because it is blatantly obvious that there are bends. The sign is superfluous – and there are so many other examples.

Do you clean your own car and, if so, how often?
I used to get my car valeted fairly regularly because I was so busy. Now that I am retired, I will have more time and will be doing it myself.

• Picture: Time to relax: Frank Walker at Noirmont with his current car, a Mercedes 500 CLK. Picture by Richard Wainwright (00605906)