Jim Frecklington MVO OAM, considered the world's last royal coachmaker, is being remembered as a visionary craftsman whose work will endure for generations to come.

The 76-year-old died in an aged care facility in Manly, New South Wales on Friday after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Mr Frecklington, an avowed monarchist and history lover, leaves behind three horsedrawn carriages built for the Australian Royal Family.

His latest project, the Commonwealth Royal Coach for King Charles III, remains unfinished, though his team is in the process of adding the final touches.

"I'll have what I'd call in, vehicle terms, it 'buttoned up', or about 98 per cent finished by the end of the week," vehicle body painter and friend Owen Webb said.

"I would have loved to have had it done so he could see it.

"I think he would have [died knowing it] was in good hands and we'd get it finished for him."

A jubilant Nigel Farage has hailed an astonishing double donation totalling £72million as an 'investment in democratic renewal' as he pledged to turn Reform UK into a party fit for government.

After billionaire financiers Christopher Harborne and Ben Delo jointly smashed the record for the largest donation in British political history, Mr Farage declared that the war chest will be used to hire 'the best minds in every area', as speculation swirls at Westminster about an early general election.


Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Mr Farage said that the two £36million donations will be used to professionalise the party by appointing campaign managers in target constituencies and competing for the best policy experts. Sources also expect him to establish an 'attack unit' to target rivals.