Finally! I've received my V5 back and IT'S ON! (Please excuse my excitement).
I inquired with the DVLA early last year to see if this plate was available for purchase and was very pleased when they responded and said that it was not currently assigned to a vehicle, so they had noted my interest and said it would feature in a future auction.
However, they could not tell me when, or which auction
I continued to pester them, sending an email every month or two (not using an email address giving my first and last name ), offering to purchase the plate outside of the auction process, but was faced with the same responses; "We've noted your interest, it will feature in a future auction, we can't tell you which or when, but we'll let you know".
I'd pretty much given up hope, until last month when I received an email informing me my plate had been released and would be in the next DVLA timed online auction (basically DVLA eBay).
Cutting a longer story short (and a very nervous week later) - I won! Fortunately for me, no one else bid and I secured it for the reserve price.
For those that don't know me, my name is IAN DOLE, hence the reason I REALLY wanted this plate.