2008 Transport Trust Restoration Awards

The Restoration Awards are made each year to further the progress of specific restoration projects. Judging takes place during August with the results announced in October. In addition to the financial awards, successful applicants are invited to receive certificates from our patron, HRH Prince Michael of Kent, at the following year's award ceremony. At the 2009 ceremony Prince Michael presented certificates to the winners of the 2008 Restoration Awards:

National Tramway Museum

The National Tramway Museum at Crich took the Peter Allen Award and a cheque for £2000. This is for its work to bring back to service Cardiff City Tramways Rail Scrubber No.131. This was the first tram to arrive at Crich in 1959 and completion of its restoration is therefore an appropriate emblem for the 50th anniversary.

Andrew Dixon

Aircraft enthusiast Andrew Dixon received the Ron Willsdon Award and £2000 for his work on Percival Sea Prince T1. Having purchased the aircraft in deteriorating condition in 2006, Andrew and his wife have devoted much time and effort in their work to return it to operating condition.

Great Western Society

The Didcot collection took the David Muirhead Award and £2000 towards completion of 6023 King Edward II which is being rebuilt with slight modifications to permit main line running in the modern age.

Other Award Winners

Also recognised were two excellent examples of Essex fishing vessels, Jon Brett's Iris Mary, CK105 dating from 1911 and Paul Winter's Maria, CK21 from 1866. Inland waterways were not left out, David Ray receiving an award towards engine overhaul of the traditional coal-carrying narrowboat Hyperion and the Hereford and Gloucester Canal Trust for workboat Alder, which has an important role supporting restoration of the canal itself.

On land, Anthony Coulls' Aveling & Porter road roller, being restored to working condition from static display at Beamish, and David Locket's Talbot/ Vanden Plas open tourer were recognised. Montrose Air Station was given an award towards completion of its restoration of a wartime David Brown airfield tractor.

As usual the PSV sector was well represented with four vehicles among the award winners. Michael Banfield's open-top Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric is a clear landmark in bus heritage. Even older is Adrian Herbert's 1911 Halliford, another rare survivor.
Ipswich Transport Museum, for Karrier trolleybus 105, and Leicester Transport Heritage Trust, for Dennis Dominator 233, exemplify the collective efforts which have marked the transport heritage scene.


Only one other railway project featured this time around. The Midland & Great Northern Society received an award for their carriage and wagon department's work on an 1887 wooden bodied 5-compartment coach which has been a bungalow since withdrawal from railway service in 1935.