A CLASSIC car proudly bearing the coveted Pembrokeshire DE registration has returned home to the county - after spending almost all its life in East Anglia. The Ford Zephyr, 305 EDE, was supplied new by Jeremys Garages, of Narberth, in 1959, when its price on the road was less than £1,000.

Today, her prized number plate alone is worth more than that, and it was the sight of the Pembrokeshire registration that sealed the deal for the Zephyrs new owners, Brian and Jean Lewis, of B.J. Limousines, The Coppins, Pentlepoir, near Saundersfoot.

With Brians 65th birthday approaching, he decided to treat himself to a classic car, with fond memories of the Ford Consul he owned in the 1960s.

We found the car advertised in a magazine and went to Weston-Super-Mare to see her, said Jean. We just couldnt believe it when we saw the number plate, and that was it - we just had to bring the Zephyr home.

Less than 22,000 miles are on the clock of the Zephyr, whose first owner, Commander Grenfell of Salisbury, Wiltshire, sold it on in 1962 to 72-year-old Mr Roland Sherar, of Norfolk.

Three years and around 16,000 miles later, the car was put into a cow barn, where it remained until the late 1980s.

It was rescued from there by a Mr Clayton, of Norfolk, who resprayed it and re-registered it as VSU 340. Then it was sold to Mr David Dye, of Norfolk, who owned it for 11 years and applied to the DVLA to register it under its original number. It was briefly owned by a Mr Philip Lewis, of Weston-Super-Mare, before being bought by the Pembrokeshire couple.

Brian and Jean, who have now been joined in their wedding and funeral car business by their daughter, Marilyn Hay, made the first of many happy outings in the Zephyr on Friday.

But although being intended as Brians retirement runabout, the Zephyr looks set to play a role in the family firm.

She looks lovely with white ribbons, and is already booked up for a wedding next year! laughed Jean.

Caption: Welcome home: Brian Lewis with his Pembrokeshire-registered Ford Zephyr. PICTURE: Gareth Davies Photography.