SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, RT HON MICHAEL FALLON MP PRESENTS SPECIALLYADAPTED VAUXHALL ASTRA
27 March, 2015 - Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, Secretary of State for Defence presented the
keys of a new Vauxhall Astra to Motability customer Andy Grant, a former Royal Marine
Commando who was injured while serving in Afghanistan. The presentation took place on
Tuesday 24th March at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall, London and was attended by the
First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir George Zambellas, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Air Chief
Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford, Lieutenant General Andrew Gregory, Brigadier Charlie Stickland
OBE.
Andy had his right leg amputated following injuries sustained as a Royal Marine in
Afghanistan. He joined the Marine Commandos at 17 and served in Iraq for a year before
going to Afghanistan in 2008. Aged 20, while out serving with 45 Commando, in Helmand
Province, Andy was critically injured when a trip wire attached to two IEDs was triggered by
the lead man. Both IEDs were detonated. After receiving lifesaving treatment on the ground
from his fellow Royal Marines, he was airlifted to Camp Bastion. He suffered 27 separate
injuries and woke up two weeks later from a coma, in Birmingham, at the then Selly Oak
Hospital. He stayed in hospital for a further three months receiving treatment. For the next
18 months he spent all his time in and out of Headley Court in Surrey, where he began to
adjust to life with his injuries. In 2010, he had his right leg amputated, just below the knee.
The vehicle, ordered at retailer Lookers of Liverpool, is an automatic Astra 1.6i Elite Sport
Tourer, and has been fitted with a twin flip folding left foot accelerator.
Andy Vincent, Motability Sales and Marketing Manager, attended the event. He said
“Vauxhall Motors is a founding member of the Motability Scheme which was set-up in 1977.
It has a long history of providing vehicles for disabled drivers, their family and carers. Andy is
a truly remarkable person and we are delighted that he has chosen Vauxhall to meet his
needs.”
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Andy Grant left the Royal Marines in May 2012. Through Help for Heroes, Andy rebuilt his
confidence by taking part in adaptive sports and he began a new career in motivational
speaking, for which Help for Heroes supported him with the setup costs, including training
and marketing. He now spends much of his time travelling around the country talking about
his experiences. Andy also competed in the Invictus Games in 2014, and won two Gold
Medals in 400m and 1,500m Men's Ambulant IT1.
He lives in Liverpool, with his partner Leonie, 28, and her two children, Payton and Brooke.
They also recently celebrated the birth of their daughter, Alba, in October 2014. A picture of
the family is attached.
Andy said: "I am very proud of my achievements and like to turn my story around to try and
inspire other people about what they can achieve in the face of adversity. I am all about
looking forward. I cannot undo what happened and I have no regrets. I am all about making
the best of a bad situation.
"My job as an inspirational speaker takes me around the world; I've started amazing
relationships with people; I have three children and an amazing family; I'm looking to row
across the Atlantic; and I'm hoping to be picked for the Paralympics next year. My life has
moved on in an amazing way and it's all down to what happened. It's given me more of a life
than I probably would have had."
Secretary of State for Defence, Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP said:
“It is a privilege to give Andy the keys to this specially-made vehicle – he is an inspirational
individual who embodies the fighting spirit of our Armed Forces.
“Our brave troops do a challenging and sometimes dangerous job. It’s only right that we
continue to recognise and support those wounded in service. That’s why we work closely
with charities such as Motability, which offer practical help to veterans and their families.
I’m delighted that this car will give Andy greater independence and the freedom to work
and travel around the country.”
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Lord Sterling of Plaistow, Chairman of Motability, commented:
"We are very pleased that the Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Fallon MP handed over
the keys of a Motability car to Andy, a truly inspirational young ex-Marine. We are very proud
to use this occasion to honour those who need help with disabilities sustained whilst serving
the country in the Armed Forces.
"In November 1983 the Government introduced a special mobility payment which enabled us
to extend the Motability Scheme to all wounded veterans, of whom today we have some
17,000.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information, please contact:
Kate Oyler, Manager, Brand Communications kate.oyler@vauxhall.co.uk / 01582 426603
Image attached from left to right:
Chris Green, Motability Specialist, Lookers LiverpoolJohn Whyte, Retail Operator, Lookers Liverpool,
Brigadier Charlie Stickland OBE, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Andy Grant, Rt Hon Michael Fallon
MP, Admiral Sir George Michael Zambellas, Andy Vincent, Motability Sales and Marketing Manager,
Vauxhall, Lt General Andrew Gregory.
About Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors has been manufacturing vehicles in the UK continuously since 1903 and has recently
launched the Vauxhall ADAM, Mokka and Cascada. Vauxhall’s range spans all mainstream sectors of
the vehicle market with best-selling model names such as Corsa, Astra, Meriva, Zafira and Insignia
regularly topping the sales charts. Vauxhall is also the largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in
the UK and its parent company General Motors’ 4th largest global market.
Vauxhall employs over 4500 in the UK and exports over 70% of its production. It is headquartered in
Luton, Bedfordshire with manufacturing plants in the town (Vivaro van production) and Ellesmere Port
in Cheshire (Astra production). www.vauxhall.co.uk
The Motability Scheme
The Motability Scheme is the UK’s leading car scheme for disabled people. It provides affordable,
convenient, trouble-free motoring to over 630,000 disabled customers and their families. Powered
wheelchairs and scooters can also be leased using the Motability Scheme.
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
The Scheme is available to anyone who receives the Higher Rate Mobility Component of Disability
Living Allowance (DLA), the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence
Payment (PIP), the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS) or the Armed Forces
Independence Payment (AFIP). Customers simply transfer their mobility allowance to Motability
to lease or purchase a car, powered wheelchair or scooter.

For those customers choosing to lease a car with no Advance Payment, through the Contract Hire
Scheme, their mobility allowance will cover the total cost of the vehicle, including insurance, tyre
and windscreen replacement, servicing, breakdown cover and road tax. Some 450 models of car
are currently available to lease with no Advance Payment.

As part of the Contract Hire package, a range of popular adaptations are available at no additional
cost, such as push-pull hand controls and left-foot accelerators.

The Scheme is directed and overseen by Motability, a national charity, which also provides
financial assistance to customers, who would otherwise be unable to afford the mobility solution
they need.

Motability Operations is the company that operates the Motability Scheme, under contract to
Motability.

More information about the Motability Scheme can be obtained by telephoning 0300 456 4566
or by visiting motability.co.uk.
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