A Vertu Motors employee has been awarded the Silver Medal of the Polish Army for his voluntary work maintaining a Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire, with the Polish Heritage Flight.

Derek Rusling, regional finance and insurance development manager, at the AM100 dealer group, along with other members of the Polish Heritage Flight team, were presented with the award by the Polish Ambassador and Defence Attaché at the Polish embassy in London.

Formed in 2019, Polish Heritage Flight is operated by volunteers based at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford.

Rusling said: “Alongside my busy day job working with Vertu Motors, in my spare time I’m privileged to be able to help look after and operate these symbolic aeroplanes. We didn’t know much about the Polish story initially, but through much research, we learnt of the brave and inspirational story that we now try to tell - keeping it alive using these historic and iconic aeroplanes.

“It’s a huge privilege to receive the Silver Medal and I’m aware of the incredible weight this award bares. We accept this award with the utmost humility on behalf of the Polish people.

“The support I’ve had from my colleagues within the Vertu Motors group has been fantastic, especially using the Spitfire in a television advert earlier this year. I am a very proud Vertu Colleague.”

Robert Forrester, Chief Executive of Vertu Motors plc, said: “It is brilliant to see Derek’s incredibly important work recognised at one of the highest levels by the Polish Government. Everyone across the Group is incredibly proud of Derek and his work in highlighting such an important story.”

A first half trading update from the PLC behind Vertu Motors, Bristol Street Motors and Macklin Motors revealed adjusted profit before tax of £28.2 million (H1 FY22: £51.8m) on revenues up 3.9% at £2bn.

Forrester said in group’s statement that “the business is strategically very well placed with significant firepower to expand its footprint of franchised dealerships across the UK”.

The group added its first Ferrari supercar and Volvo dealerships to its car retail portfolio through the £117 million acquisition of Helston Garages, earlier this month.