FOR more than 60 years he towered over the world of motoring.

Lord Edward Montagu, one of Britain’s best-known peers, founded the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, and also campaigned on a series of car-related issues.

Now, as Beaulieu prepares to mark the first anniversary of his death, a statue of Lord Montagu has been installed outside the attraction he created.

The 6ft bronze statue was unveiled at a private ceremony but is back under wraps until next month.

It was commissioned by Paul Nicholas, 79, of Dock Lane, Beaulieu, a friend of Lord Montagu for more than half a century.

Mr Nicholas said: “He was a great guy and I thought he deserved it in recognition of his work for Beaulieu and with what he achieved with the National Motor Museum.”

The statue was designed by Suffolk artist John Cox who died before he could complete the eye-catching tribute.

His widow Joy and his daughter, Jayne Meadows, who are both part of the family sculpture business, Escar UK Bronze, finished the project together.

They said the final result would have made John “immensely proud”.

Joy said the hardest part was perfecting Lord Montagu’s smile and revealed that the statue’s original head was removed and replaced.

She added: “What we tried to get over was his warmth – and that’s what made the smile difficult to get right.

"I think it looks really good.”

The new Lord Montagu, the peer’s son Ralph, added: “We have placed the statue here because the National Motor Museum was his proudest achievement and the most important legacy he left us.

“It’s appropriate his figure should be here to welcome everyone into the museum as a reminder of the person without whom the building would not be standing.”

Lord Edward Montagu was too ill to pose for the sculptor, which meant the statue had to be created from photographs of the peer.

It depicts him holding a Dunlop tyre and wearing the vintage clothing he donned for London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, an event in which he often took part.

He died on August 31 last year from what his family described as a combination of pneumonia and complications arising from old age.