Princess Anne awards man, 95, for car restoration

Princess Anne is the royal patron of the National Transport Trust

A 95-year-old man who restored his father's classic car has received an award from the Princess Royal.

It took three years for Malcolm Stern, from Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, to restore the 1930s' Sunbeam Talbot Darracq to its former glory.

He received the President's Award at the National Transport Trust's (NTT) annual awards at Fawley Hill, near Henley-on-Thames.

The princess presided over the awards as its royal patron.

Work on the car started in 2020, and by 2023 it had passed its MOT

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Mr Stern had been researching the car his father used to drive during his childhood in order to create a 3D model of it.

By chance he found his father's actual car, in a dilapidated condition, available for auction in 2020.

When Mr Stern and his wife went to visit the car, they said it looked a "right wreck", but decided to buy it for £6,000 because it was so special.

The Princess was "quite interested" in Mr Stern's restoration project

His daughter, Samantha McGarry, said her father appreciated the recognition from the trust.

She said: "The princess was very gracious, interested in all the restoration projects and took time to chat with each of the award winners individually. She appeared quite interested in dad's story.

"His car was on display, so he was happy to show it off and talk about his work with like-minded enthusiasts.

"We are all so proud of him."