Bolton and Leigh men helped to build Queen's funeral hearse

On Monday, billions watched the memorable occasion on which the late monarch was laid to rest.

Martin Lowe, from Little Lever, and Sean Prescott, from Leigh, spent months engineering a regular black Jaguar into a hearse fit for a member of the Royal Family.

The pair were contacted about the job when they worked at Wilcox Limousines in Hindley Green around five years ago, but had no idea the vehicle would be used for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

With a “network of people” working on other aspects of the hearse, Martin and Sean worked on developing, trimming, and glazing the hearse to fit the original shell of the Jaguar.

It was a tough job as Jaguar engineers inspected their work at every stage, and the Queen herself was reported to have been consulted on the design.

However, witnessing their finished product televised live at the Queen’s funeral on Monday was a moment the pair will never forget.

Martin, aged 42, said: “It was an honour and a privilege to work on the Queen’s hearse.

"To have started on a bare shell to then see all our hard work complete on display for the world to see was amazing.

“We developed and designed all the interior trim, exterior trim and fully glazed the vehicle.

“I was sat at home with my wife and family watching the TV and did so with so much pride. 

“It was a difficult day as it was a year to the day that my mum passed away.

I just wish she could have seen it.

“The long hours spent on the hearse was certainly worth it in the end as it truly looked magnificent.”

Martin Lowe (Image: Martin Lowe)

The Queen's Hearse (Image: PA)

Sean, aged 60, added: “The Jaguar came to us as a basic shell and we had to develop all the interior work, trim and cover all the panels, and fit all the interior and exterior lighting.

“It was a huge job that took us a few months working long hours, and we had to be periodically inspected by Jaguar engineers.

"But it was worth it to see it all come together and it was great to be involved in making it.”

Sean and Martin's engineering work took months to complete (Image: PA)

The Queen's funeral was streamed to billions of people across the world (Image: PA)

After 33 years working at Wilcox Limousines, Sean left the company a few years ago to set up his own business, SMP Painting & Decorating.

While he may not be in the manufacturing industry anymore, he said that watching the Queen's hearse on display to billions of people around the world was a "very proud" moment that he will never forget.

Sean Prescott (Image: Sean Prescott)