Range Rover from Princess Di’s funeral part of museum’s 999 vehicles show
A POLICE Range Rover which followed Princess Diana’s funeral cortege was one of the vehicles on display at Coventry Transport Museum’s popular 999 Emergency Services Family day this weekend.
The free blues-and-twos event – held outside the museum on Millennium Place on Saturday – featured a selection of contemporary and classic emergency vehicles, as well as serving members of the fire service, police, RNLI, Air Ambulance and other emergency services.
Vehicles on show included current state-of-the-art West Midlands police cars, a new Volvo fire engine, fast-response motorbikes, a 1972 Morris Minor police car, an RAF Land Rover and plenty more besides.
One of the vehicles on show was a specially restored police Range Rover, MH51 CVC that had a special place in history.
The ‘751’ was used to escort Princess Diana’s hearse on September 6 1997 from Westminster Abbey to Althorp in Nottinghamshire.
The car’s story began in 1994, when shortly after the second generation Range Rover launch events, Land Rover created six CVC-registered police demonstrators.
The M751 CVC, a very early 4.0 SE production vehicle, was eventually transferred to the Metropolitan Police’s Special Escort Group (SEG).
Range Rover collector Richard Hopkins discovered ‘751’ in a poor but original state in 2011 and he subsequently spent 18 months painstakingly restoring the vehicle back to its original 1997 SEG livery.
The restored car was originally exhibited at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC in November 2012.
Visitors to the 999 Emergency Services event had the chance to sit in a variety of vehicles and learn about the skills required to become a qualified emergency service operative.
In addition, there was a fire prevention demonstration, an interactive road safety demonstration, crime prevention advice, and police and medical dog displays, along with an interactive bicycle safety and awareness show, where cyclists could get their bikes repaired and security coded.
Members of the RNLI spoke about sea and open water safety, there was a first aid demonstration for parents and tots and the West Midlands Brass Band entertained those who attended.
Event co-ordinator Clive Skelhon said: “People regard our emergency service workers as superheroes. And this was a celebration of the people who are there to help us.
“Recent events have underlined the importance and heroism of our emergency services. They are vital and valued members of our everyday lives.”