Number Plate Stories

A special way to remember loved ones

By Ruby Speechley

Buying a personalised number plate is usually associated with fun and frivolity, but when you lose someone dear, it seems that for many, using this unusual means to remember a loved one, can often help soften the blow.

When Phill Davison, a fire-fighting son from Spennymore in County Durham received DAV 999C from his parents for his 21 st birthday, he wasn’t to know how important it would become. Phill’s father died of a heart attack later that year. “My wonderful Dad was just 45 years old,” said Phill, “he was also a fireman, in charge of Darlington station. His number plate DAV 999V is now on my Mum’s Land Rover. My matching plate is even more special to me now that I have lost him.”

John Harrington’s wife Tina also died suddenly after being admitted into Lincoln County Hospital two days before Christmas for a routine operation. “She passed away following complications, aged just 42,” said John from Lincolnshire, “I bought J5 THW in her memory. We had only been married for five years. I had wanted a plate with Tina’s birthday, 9 November, but because 911 is so popular with Porsche owners, they are hard to find. J5 THW is perfect though - ‘J’ stands for John, 5 for the five years we were married, and THW were Tina’s initials. The registration means a great deal to me. I’ll cherish it for the rest of my life.”

Judy Teader’s daughter Helen found the memorial plate P1 JJT, for her when her husband died. “My beloved Peter was tragically killed in a gliding accident along with another pilot,” said Judy, “I wanted a number plate in remembrance. The P stands for Peter, the 1 means that he was my number one, and JJT are my initials.” Like many, Judy is determined to celebrate her husband’s life despite the tragic circumstances of his death. “It is such a happy way of remembering him,” she said “and so easy to find the car in a car park! He’d have liked that.”

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