Chris Hutchison from Alloa Receives Royal-presented Award for Historic Vehicle Restoration

That the Parliament congratulates a gentleman from Alloa on receiving a coveted restoration award from Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, following his restoration and rebuilding of an historic motor vehicle; believes that Chris Hutchison received the accolade from the National Transport Trust (NTT) as a result of his work on a 1927 Sentinel Super Steam Waggon; understands that Mr Hutchison was said to have been "honoured" to receive his award from a member of the Royal Family, with Princess Anne herself as NTT’s royal patron presenting the keen historian with his certificate; acknowledges that Chris’s work began in 2016, when he purchased the remains of a Sentinel Super Steam Waggon engine from the estate of the late vintage steam enthusiast, John Keeley, and from there, he set about restoring the vehicle to its full use, rebuilding the vehicle from just the engine as its base and utilising the help of his entire family; considers that this made the Alloa man a "worthy winner" for judges at the NTT’s annual awards; notes that Chris started off by discovering that the engine he had purchased belonged to Waggon number 6982, and, from there, he used photographs and records to try and restore it as accurately as he could, involving his son and six grandchildren to help with the finished product; further notes that Chris was also helped by an engineer based more than 400 miles away, who provided advice and support; understands that an emphasis was also placed on passing on restoration skills and passions to the younger members of the family who helped out, in particular Chris’s grandchildren; considers that two of those involved have used the project for the skills element of their Duke of Edinburgh Gold awards; further considers that Sentinels were built as steam waggons at the turn of the 20th century in Glasgow under the name of Alley and MacLellan, with production transferring to The Sentinel Waggon Works Ltd, Shrewsbury, in 1918; understands that these waggons, with their high-pressure (230psi) superheated boilers, were considered in their time fast and efficient, as well as being much more modern in concept than their more conventional competitors; is enthused that Chris and his family’s work embraced acquiring both old and new skills, including machining, hot riveting, welding, wood working, timber steaming and coach painting, plus many others, and commends him not only for this outstanding and historic restoration, but also for the active involvement of young people and what it considers to be the absolutely outstanding quality and attention to detail of the finished product, which it agrees was befitting of such an award.