In conjunction with the Autocar Drivers of Change awards, Lynda Ennis, co-founder of Ennis & Co will present a new, special award in memory of her late father, Bernard ‘Bunny’ Ennis, to support an individual on their career within automotive.
Bunny Ennis worked in the automotive sector for his entire career alongside being a tireless campaigner and fund-raiser for fellow World War II veterans. Showing the generosity of spirit that underpinned his larger-than-life personality, he bequeathed a sum of money to help create opportunities in the industry he loved.
The newly established Bunny Ennis Fund will provide an annual training bursary for an individual already working in automotive or who hopes to join the industry.
Born ‘Bernard Ennis’, he was known as ‘Bunny’ since childhood after he was given what he was told were two male rabbits but who turned out to be a male and female. He ended up with more than 20 rabbits and a nickname that stuck.
Following the outbreak of World War II, Bunny enlisted in the RAF at the age of 15 – lying that he was the minimum age of 16. He served as an RAF rear gunner and, in 1945, was almost killed when his aircraft was shot down over the Bay of Biscay, forcing him to eject and parachute into the sea.
Despite sustaining a broken collarbone, broken ribs and broken ankles, he managed to link up with his injured skipper in the water and inflate a small dinghy. The skipper died in his arms before a rescue boat arrived 24 hours later.
He subsequently extended his passion for all things mechanical to working in the automotive industry, repairing and rebuilding mainly classic cars, including Miss Marple’s Ford Popular for the BBC TV drama series.
His harrowing wartime experience never left him, however, and he was highly active in the military veteran community.
He was chairman of the Air Gunners Association in London, a member of the Goldfish Club for airmen who survived a parachute jump into water, a member of the Union Jack Club and a keen campaigner and fund-raiser for the armed forces charity, The Not Forgotten.