Queen Elizabeth has marked the 40th anniversary of a mobility scheme.
The 91-year-old monarch hosted a ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday (25.04.17) for the Motability scheme which provides much needed adaptations to vehicles for disabled drivers.
At the ceremony, five drivers received a ceremonial key fob for their new cars and vans from the Queen, who is the royal patrol of the scheme set up by Lord Sterling and the late Lord Goodman in 1977.
Since the scheme’s conception, Motability has helped put an estimated 4.5 million vehicles on the roads and pavements, and those who met the monarch at the celebration hailed the scheme as an essential service in helping them get behind the wheel when they would be otherwise unable to do so.
Former Royal Marine Paul Barrett – who lost his right leg and use of most of his right arm when he was caught in the blast from an IED whilst serving in Iraq – said the scheme had helped him become "independent again".
Paul – who attended the ceremony with his wife Nova and their two children Ria, 14, and eight-year-old Isaac – told the Daily Mail newspaper: "The Motability scheme has made me independent again, it’s maximised my self esteem and my self confidence and it’s provided me a way of becoming a father again.
"I’ve had a lot taken away from me in being an amputee but I’m now – in case of an emergency or in case someone’s needed to go to the shops – my own person."
Meanwhile, the Queen also sent a message to the Motability scheme, praising it for "enriching" the lives of disabled drivers.
She 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."
Queen Elizabeth marks 40th anniversary of Motability scheme
