Over the years they have repaired mowers,
go-karts, bits of boats, and many other things
for the local community they served, as well
as servicing a rich variety of vehicles with no
fuss, a sure touch, and for far too little money.
The garage also in those far-off un-PC days
had a tiny office in the back, presided over by
Magic Sue, the secretary, and in which there
was a variety of calendars with girls who
seemed to have mislaid most of their clothes,
which one hardly noticed at all, and where the
family ate their sandwich lunch.
Brian, Tony’s brother, joined him when Fred
retired, and with his enormous beard and
genial disposition, looked a bit like Terry
Waite as you would find him in the boiler
room of the Titanic.
I grew up with Tony and Brian, and they used
to play with me (I was the ball), and they are
two honourable good men of absolute
integrity.
I often used to wonder how the Garage made
a living for the family, and so did they, but they
delivered school dinners, ran a taxi service,
took Special Needs children out from
Whitedown School in Alton, and very
occasionally indeed sold a car. (They also
won a TV, see photo!)
Justin, Tony’s son and Fred’s grandson, who
has the family’s Good Looks as well, joined
the business in 1989, and rapidly became an
excellent mechanic. Almost as wild as me in
his youth, he has proved a worthy successor
to Father and Grandfather as he takes over
as the third generation of the family business.
We all wish him, and his business partner
Gary, well, and look forward to them
continuing the service to the community so
richly offered by his forebears.
John Sargent
15