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Awards and Loans

The Trust offers financial assistance to individuals or groups to carry through restoration or improvement projects to completion. The Trust also invites enquiries about sponsoring one or more Awards.

The Trust awards its premier trophy to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the cause of transport heritage preservation in a specific year, or which has culminated in a specific year. The winner holds for a year a silver model of SS Great Britain, since the award was inspired by the achievement of Sir Jack Hayward in returning the vessel from the Falklands to Bristol.

Preservationist of the Year 2024

Michael O'Brien Having just completed a very complex and very expensive conversion of an industrial building into a home, our Preservationist of the Year Michael O'Brien decided to own a wooden boat. He found one in a field in Essex and bought it, a 30ft motor cruiser built in Kingston upon Thames in 1937. The seller thought it might have been...

Young Preservationist Award

Nominate Young preservationist of the year
This award recognises the achievements of young people (under the age of 20) in the field of restoration. The winner receives a cheque for £500.

Young Preservationist of the Year 2024

Rosie Hodgson-Jones Rosie's restoration project started when, at the age of 14, she went to a Model T Ford Register autojumble and successfully bid on a 1926 Model T Tourer body. Her grandfather provided an engine which he had at the back of his garage and, with support from her father, she began to restore the car including an engine strip,...

Restoration Awards

Apply for a Restoration Award
These Awards, shown in no particular order, are made to assist individuals and groups who are working hard to preserve items of importance to the nation's transport heritage, and generally come with a substantial financial sum which it is hoped will assist with making good restorations great.

Restoration Awards 2023

National Transport Trust Commemorative Awards With the exception of the Sir William McAlpine Award, projects winning a National Transport Trust Commemorative Award are selected from those already awarded Restoration Awards each year, and as such, are recognised as the best of the best of each year's restoration projects receiving a...

These Awards, shown in no particular order, specifically assist preservation projects that are underway but not completed. Applicants need to show that some progress has already been made, that there is a clear and costed future plan and a realistic likelihood of completion within 12 months of the application being made. Applications will assessed on the basis of rarity, technical historic or social significance, quality of workmanship, proportion of work being carried out by applicant, originality of design and materials. In addition The Trust needs to be satisfied that, after restoration, the item will be seen and enjoyed at reasonable intervals by the general public and that, as far as is reasonably foreseeable, the item is not destined for the market place and will be retained by the restoring owner/s. Infrastructure projects will not be considered for this award scheme.

Restoration Awards 2022

Commemorative Awards The Peter Allen Award Sir Peter Allen was the particularly influential first president of the Trust. The award in his name was this year awarded to the Britannia Sailing Trust for its restoration of the 1915 East Coast Sailing Smack " Britannia". The Britannia Sailing Trust -1915 East Coast Sailing Smack...

These Awards, shown in no particular order, specifically assist preservation projects that are underway but not completed. Applicants need to show that some progress has already been made, that there is a clear and costed future plan and a realistic likelihood of completion within 12 months of the application being made. Applications will assessed on the basis of rarity, technical historic or social significance, quality of workmanship, proportion of work being carried out by applicant, originality of design and materials. in addition The Trust needs to be satisfied that, after restoration, the item will be seen and enjoyed at reasonable intervals by the general public and that, as far as is reasonably foreseeable, the item is not destined for the market place and will be retained by the restoring owner/s. Infrastructure projects will not be considered for this award scheme.

Restoration Awards 2021

After an enforced abandonment of our presentations in 2020, the Patron of the National Transport Trust, Her Royal Highness princess Anne, presented both the 2020 and the 2021 Personal and Restoration Awards on Wednesday October 20th at Fawley Hill, the home of our President, Judy, Lady McAlpine. The National Transport Trust has chosen the...

These Awards, shown in no particular order, specifically assist preservation projects that are underway but not completed. Applicants need to show that some progress has already been made, that there is a clear and costed future plan and a realistic likelihood of completion within 12 months of the application being made. Applications will assessed on the basis of rarity, technical historic or social significance, quality of workmanship, proportion of work being carried out by applicant, originality of design and materials. in addition The Trust needs to be satisfied that, after restoration, the item will be seen and enjoyed at reasonable intervals by the general public and that, as far as is reasonably foreseeable, the item is not destined for the market place and will be retained by the restoring owner/s. Infrastructure projects will not be considered for this award scheme.

Restoration Awards 2020

The National Transport Trust is the only national charity established to promote and encourage the preservation of Britain's unique transport heritage in all its forms – that is to say air, land (road and rail) and water (sea and inland).Each year the Trust invites nominations for awards to assist individuals and groups who are working hard to...

These Awards, shown in no particular order, specifically assist preservation projects that are underway but not completed. Applicants need to show that some progress has already been made, that there is a clear and costed future plan and a realistic likelihood of completion within 12 months of the application being made. Applications will assessed on the basis of rarity, technical historic or social significance, quality of workmanship, proportion of work being carried out by applicant, originality of design and materials. in addition The Trust needs to be satisfied that, after restoration, the item will be seen and enjoyed at reasonable intervals by the general public and that, as far as is reasonably foreseeable, the item is not destined for the market place and will be retained by the restoring owner/s. Infrastructure projects will not be considered for this award scheme.

Restoration Awards 2019

This year’s restoration awards were presented at the Transport Trust annual awards lunch, held at Brooklands Museum on Monday 17th June 2019, the awards being presented to the winners by HRH Prince Michael of Kent. Restoration Awards are given to those projects that represent important milestones in the development of transport and are...

These Awards, shown in no particular order, specifically assist preservation projects that are underway but not completed. Applicants need to show that some progress has already been made, that there is a clear and costed future plan and a realistic likelihood of completion within 12 months of the application being made. Applications will assessed on the basis of rarity, technical historic or social significance, quality of workmanship, proportion of work being carried out by applicant, originality of design and materials. in addition The Trust needs to be satisfied that, after restoration, the item will be seen and enjoyed at reasonable intervals by the general public and that, as far as is reasonably foreseeable, the item is not destined for the market place and will be retained by the restoring owner/s. Infrastructure projects will not be considered for this award scheme.

Restoration Awards 2018

This year’s restoration awards were presented at the Transport Trust annual awards lunch, held at Brooklands Museum on Monday 4th June 2018, the awards being presented to the winners by HRH Prince Michael of Kent. The winning projects cover a range of transport interests and are worthy winners. For details of this year’s award winning...

These Awards, shown in no particular order, specifically assist preservation projects that are underway but not completed. Applicants need to show that some progress has already been made, that there is a clear and costed future plan and a realistic likelihood of completion within 12 months of the application being made. Applications will assessed on the basis of rarity, technical historic or social significance, quality of workmanship, proportion of work being carried out by applicant, originality of design and materials. in addition The Trust needs to be satisfied that, after restoration, the item will be seen and enjoyed at reasonable intervals by the general public and that, as far as is reasonably foreseeable, the item is not destined for the market place and will be retained by the restoring owner/s. Infrastructure projects will not be considered for this award scheme.

Restoration Awards 2017

Tim Moore of Sandy, Bedfordshire - Merryweather Airship Construction Ladder Awarded for therestoration of a huge, specialised, Merryweather ladder, used in the construction of the RAW R101 airship at Cardington, during the 1920s. This unique, approximately ninety year old contraption is the only known remaining example of the six to ten...

These Awards specifically assist preservation projects that are underway but not completed. Applicants need to show that some progress has already been made, that there is a clear and costed future plan and a realistic likelihood of completion within 12 months of the application being made. Applications will assessed on the basis of rarity, technical historic or social significance, quality of workmanship, proportion of work being carried out by applicant, originality of design and materials. in addition The Trust needs to be satisfied that, after restoration, the item will be seen and enjoyed at reasonable intervals by the general public and that, as far as is reasonably foreseeable, the item is not destined for the market place and will be retained by the restoring owner/s. Infrastructure projects will not be considered for this award scheme.

Restoration Awards 2016

1885 Decauville narrow gauge steam engine Jeremy Martin of Hawkenbury in Kent for the repatriation and restoration of his 1885Decauville narrow gauge steam engine. This locomotive was recovered from Peru, where it had been in use on a sugar plantation, and restored. It will be seen and used on the owner’s railway and at other...

Restoration Awards 2015

The Ron Wilsdon Award given in memory of the Trust’s founder, went to theBritten Norman Aircraft Preservation Society Trust for its restoration of Britten Norman Islander G-AVCNbuilt at Bembridge and first flown in 1967. It became the first aircraft to be operated by Aurigny Air Services of Guernsey, the livery of which will be carried by...

Restoration Awards 2014

The Ron Wilsdon Award Given in memory of the Transport Trust’s founder 1923DFP (Doriot-Flandrin-Parant) Voiturette Owned by Jeremy Rogers. August Doriot and Ludovic Flandrin had worked for Peugeot and Clement-Bayard before branching out on their own to form DFP in 1906. Their English agent from 1912-1920 was W O Bentley who subsequently...

Restoration Awards 2013

Alan Moore Award 1916 Ganges class 0-6-0Ts locomotive Hudswell Clarke built about 50 of its Ganges class 0-6-0Ts for use on the War Department light railways in France but this particular example, No.1238, was acquired by the Ashanti Goldfields Corporation in what is now Ghana at its Obuasi mine. (Fig.1) There it worked for about 40 years...

Restoration Awards 2012

Peter Allen Award Windermere steam launch Osprey Lakeland Arts Trust,now custodian of the vessels at the Windermere Steamboat Museum, for its restoration of the classic Windermere steam launch Osprey (Pic.1). Built by Shepherds of Bowness in 1902 with steam propulsion, she was used privately for 70 years and later converted into a...

Restoration Awards 2011

Lakeland Arts Trust The Trust's permier award, the Peter Allen award, went to the Lakeland Arts Trust for the restoration of the classic Windermere steam launch Osprey. Built in 1902 with steam propulsion, she was used privately for 70 years and converted to a diesel-powered trip boat. The Windermere Steamboat Museum has overseen her return to...

Restoration Awards 2010

Geoff Lumb Geoff's Transport Collection at Golcar specialises in the products of the Karrier factory originally sited at nearby Huddersfield. The Peter Allen Award and a cheque for £2000 were awarded for his meticulous restoration of a 1928 Karrier six-wheel bus with English Electric clerestory-roofed single deck...

Restoration Awards 2009

Pamela Page Elegant Edwardian river launch Constance won this year's Peter Allen Award and a cheque for £1500. Once steam powered, the launch now has electric propulsion and a future hosting art lectures and painting classes while cruising the Thames. Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group Westland Whirlwind...

Restoration Awards 2008

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...

Restoration Awards 2007

Premier Awards The MTB 102 Trust took the Peter Allen Award and a cheque for £1500 towards essential work to the hull of the prototype fast patrol boat and Dunkirk veteran. The Brooklands Museum Trust received the Ron Wilsdon Award and £1500 for the return of Hurricane Z2389 to taxiing condition. Cotswold Steam Preservation Ltd...

The Trust acknowledges that exceptional achievements are built upon and sustained for the long term by the ongoing efforts of a vast army of supporters and volunteers. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognises such long term dedication. The President's award has been awarded only once before, and is made to an officer or trustee of the National Transport Trust who has achieved something of significant merit but to whom it would not be appropriate to award one of our regular awards.

Lifetime Achievement Awards 2024

Matthew Boddington Engineer, aircraft constructor and restorer, air-worthiness inspector and display pilot, Matthew has been involved with vintage aviation since childhood.His father was a pilot with the Barnstormers Flying Circus and built and flew replica aircraft for several films. Matthew flew with him in early childhood and, after his...

 

The National Transport Trust makes loans to groups, associations and individuals at advantageous rates for the restoration of artefacts - whether mobile or part of the infrastructure.  Applications must be supported by a simple business plan which demonstrates the financial viability of the project. A sample business plan is available on request from the Treasurer.

 

The Trust does occasionaly make Awards for schemes which further the preservation movement. Again if you wish further information please contact the Treasurer.

 

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