A visit to a North Yorkshire factory by the Duke of York on Friday will be tinged by both tragedy and triumph.

Prince Andrew will be visiting the Thirsk headquarters of Multidrive, the only specialist vehicle manufacturer in Britain, only three weeks after its founder chairman David JB Brown was killed when his car overturned near his home in Thirsk.

Mr Brown who was 78, started the company in 1997, building it up into a thriving plant employing 54 people, who design and build specialist vehicles for the construction, agricultural and military markets.

He was thought to be on his way to the factory to oversee new designs, when his Land Rover careered off the road in bad weather and overturned.

His cremation at Harrogate was followed by a memorial service a week later at the factory on the Thirsk Industrial Park in York Road, attended by 250 people.

The planned visit by Prince Andrew was to have been a highlight of Mr Brown's career, especially as no visits to other firms in the area were on the itinerary. Instead, the Prince will be met at Multidrive by Mr Brown's son, also David, as well as managing director Chris Chambers.

He will see a special presentation showing the drive and innovation of the firm's dynamic late founder who was seeing the fruits of a five-year research and development project when the tragedy happened.

The Duke will also tour the plant, meeting its workers and will be invited to inspect and possibly drive one of the company's purpose-built 4x4 military vehicles.

Updated: 10:03 Wednesday, March 03, 2004