THESE were the wise words from Cyril Bainbridge when I met up with him and his wife and business partner Wendy. Together they’ re celebrating 30 years of Cyril being in business as Bainbridge Engineering

All those years ago Cyril lived in Ampleforth and after a six year apprenticeship in engineering and working for other people he decided to make the bold step and go it alone. As an engineer he’ d worked mostly on farm machinery, so it was a natural place to start working for the farming community. Initially he did a lot of work on a large Dairy and Arable farm in Kilburn, AE Banks & son, whom he still works for to this day. Whilst working on the farm he was also carrying out his own general repair and fabrication work, gradually this built up until he was able to work full time for himself.

In the meantime only 2 years into the business he needed a bookkeeper – enter Wendy who met Cyril in a Pub in the picturesque village of Sutton under Whitescliffe to discuss his books and thus begun their successful partnership. They’ ve been together 28 years and have been married for five. Family members are also involved in the business, although Lauren is on maternity leave at present.

I met up with them at their beautiful farmhouse in the village of Cold Kirby just outside Thirsk. Cyril was very pleased to be able to buy back his original family home. Initially they lived in the cottage next door as the original house was virtually derelict. It’ s always been their intention to renovate the old house, however building a successful engineering business and serving the 24 / 7 farming community doesn’ t afford you much free time. However over the past 8 years Cyril has virtually single handedly restored and transformed the old family

home into what is now a stunning traditional old farmhouse with all the modern modcons. As ever it remains a work in progress. What Cyril really enjoys is taking the time to work out the next stage, plan it, making sure it’ s absolutelty spot on. All in all he has done 90 % of the work inside and out.

It’ s this approach that has made the business maintain its success. Cyril is one of those people who enjoys a challenge, never says no and won’ t and hasn’ t been beaten. However they do say behind every successful man..... Wendy knows the business inside out and manages all the day to day management side of thing, with Lauren’ s help, which free’ s valuable time for Cyril to concentrate on the technical design and manufacturing side. Then in his unavailable spare time Cyril works on the house, during the transition period moving from the cottage next door to the main house Wendy has had to endure living in a partial construction site most of the time. Now as the house approaches completion she can now enjoy a well earned bit of comfort and splendour.

Bainbridge Engineering initially concentrated on general repairs and fabrication. Cyril has always prided himself on being able to make anything. In 1990 he started to focus on Keenan feeder refurbs which rapidly became a staple of the business and continued until 2001 when dreaded Foot and Mouth hit them as well as many others. This then forced them to go independent – no way was Cyril going to let it beat him. So he started to make his own feeders, which also needed buckets to fill them and so things progressed. Because of Cyril’ s skill and uneering quality most requests

were of a bespoke nature. Now a firmly established independent, all manner of jobs came Bainbridge’ s way including brackets, buckets, muck forks, brushes and adaptations for all manner of equipment. Requests for brushes were increasing, so five years ago they looked at buying a company that made brushes. However the right price could not be agreed so in true Bainbridge style Cyril decided to design his own. They say everything happens for a reason, well hey presto the BRS brush was born. The Bainbridge brush is now a runaway success, its robustness, versatility and coming galvanised as standard, places it well above others and as ever with all Bainbridge products the price remains keen.

Demand for Bainbridge products varies from constant to almost over facing as in true farming tradition everything is wanted Now! This means wherever possible the most popular products are carried in limited stocks. Production has been speeded up with investment in the latest Plasma cutting

, welding and spraying technology. The remaining constant in every product is the strength and quality, one example being the scooped back of all shovels and buckets removing one of the key stress points. Most of the Bainbridge team come from farming families so they know and understand what farmer’ s need.

Cyril is the“ Can do man” never says no and always relishes in the challenge. Recent success’ s have been a bespoke brush for a 360 Digger for a local building company and designing a large bucket complete with opening back specially designed for scooping up logs. However versatility is the key, they frequently do work for a local racehorse trainers looking after special horse walkers and treadmills.

I asked Cyril about his most unusual challenge, after some thought he said“ Wheels for a traction engine”. Both wheels were fully designed and constructed from only the original hub, and would you believe it the outer rubber covering was made from a Tank Wheel!

Talking to Cyril and Wendy about the future both agreed that they have a great working template for the business, which

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