A TEIFI Valley pensioner described as ‘the doyen’ of motoring historians has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Michael Worthington Williams, 80, of Cenarth, received the award for services to automotive history.

Well-known as a motoring historian, prolific author and journalist, his name and reputation is respected throughout the historic vehicle movement both nationally and internationally.

“As I’m now 80 years old and I’ve been writing on motoring history for 63 years my first reaction was: ‘What took you so long?’” Mr Worthington Williams told the Cambrian News.

“It was a pleasant surprise, if totally unexpected, and it is very nice to be recognised.

“At one time I had 17 cars, but I don’t have any now.”

His favourite car was ‘Arthur’ - an Austin 20 which he purchased back in the early 1980s and drove for the next 25 years.

“Arthur had already done a million miles when I bought him and then he proceeded to do another quarter of a million miles with me,” he recalled. “He was just so reliable.”

Mr Worthington Williams’ official citation states: “His contribution to the field has been immense, through publications, books, magazine features and sometimes as the editor of journals.

“However, an equally important part of his contribution over many years has been his unstinting readiness to help assist and advise owners of historic vehicles, sharing his knowledge and being held in great esteem among historic vehicle enthusiasts.

“He is the doyen of motoring historians in Britain and by virtue of his writing, internationally as well.

“He has preserved the historic element of Britain’s huge classic car industry with his output since 1956.

“Along the way he has assisted countless authors, worked to save industrial archives and historic vehicles, chaired the Society of Automotive Historians in Britain, and led the way for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to restore historic registration numbers to vehicles.

“In his retirement, he authenticates for people the history of their veteran, vintage and classic machines and gets them re-registered for the road, preferably with their original number plates restored.”