A MOTABILITY Scheme customer who ordered his new Nissan from an Arbroath dealership received the keys this week — from Her Majesty The Queen.
Paul Barrett, a former Royal Marine who lost his leg after an IED explosion in Afghanistan, recently ordered an adapted Nissan X-Trail from Mackie Motors, on Montrose Road.
He was chosen alongside four other Motability customers to receive their vehicle from The Queen — the Chief Patron of Motability — at Windsor Castle, as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations.
Paul, who lives in Arbroath with his partner and three children, runs his own safety training business, which he named IED — Inspire, Educate and Develop.
He’s looking forward to getting on the road with his Nissan X-Trail automatic, which has been fitted with a twin flip folding left foot accelerator and a quick release steering wheel aid.
He said: “It was an honour to meet Her Majesty, but the best thing about it was that my family got to meet her too. She thanked me for my service and asked how the Motability scheme had helped me. I told her that it had allowed me to become more independent and feel like a normal father to my kids.”
Greg Black, Dealer Principal, said: “We were absolutely thrilled when we heard Paul had been selected for this very special occasion — and to have Mackie Motors involved in a ceremony with Her Majesty was the highest honour for us. It was a very proud day.”
During the event, The Queen also viewed the special features and adaptations of the Motability Scheme vehicles. During the demonstration Her Majesty learned about the significant technological advances made over the course of the last 40 years, which have allowed those with even the most severe disabilities remain mobile and independent.
In a message to the charity, The Queen said: “I congratulate Motability not only on reaching its 40th anniversary, but also during this time, how it has changed and enriched the lives of millions of disabled people, their families and friends by helping them to access a world of increased mobility and freedom.”
Established in 1977 by Lord Sterling and the late Lord Goodman, the Motability Scheme has provided 4.5 million vehicles to people with disabilities and their families.
