lencops
gone but not forgotten
Time called on Castle Bromwich's Clock Garage
Jan 12 2010 by Jonny Greatrex, Birmingham Mail. Posted by Len.
MORE than half a century of motoring history has come to an end at a well-known city site.
The Clock Garage, in Newport Road, Castle Bromwich, had been a car garage since the early days of personal transport in the 1940s.
But last month staff at the Robins and Day Peugeot dealership shut the doors for the last time and made their move to a new site on the nearby Tyburn Road.
Many of the 35-strong team had worked at the site, which gets its name from the its huge clock tower, for decades.
Hassan Erfan, 47, from Mile Oak, in Tamworth, moved to Birmingham from his native Iran in 1988 and landed a job at the firm as a service adviser. The father-of-three, who is now service manager, said: “The Clock Garage was like a family business.
“Staff had been there for a very long time so naturally when you leave something behind like that there is sadness.
“It was a very old building but it was like a home.
“We got very used to the place and it was a landmark but people must look forward to a new place and new situation.
“The new building is definitely a lot more comfortable.” The boss at the garage, dealer principle Paul Cole, feels the site offers both his staff and customers a lot more.
He said: “I have been with Peugeot since 1991, but at this dealership since 2007, so I had already developed a soft spot for the old place.
“I know quite a few staff were sad to say goodbye to it but, in terms of facilities, the Tyburn Road site is much better.
“We have lots more parking space for our cars and for customers, and the offices have so much more room.
“I know we are considered to be a flagship dealership by the company.”
The move was prompted after Peugeot’s lease on the site ran out. The car giant has run a business there since the late 1960s and at one point were combined with the now defunct Talbot car firm, most famous for its vans and campers.
Talbot was the brand name given to vehicles sold in the UK in the early part of the last century by French firm Clement-Bayard.
It was briefly owned by American carmakers Chrysler before Peugoet took over in 1978.
But the brand was axed in 1992 when the production of its vans came to a close. The future of the site has yet to be decided by oil giant BP which now owns it.
Jan 12 2010 by Jonny Greatrex, Birmingham Mail. Posted by Len.
MORE than half a century of motoring history has come to an end at a well-known city site.
The Clock Garage, in Newport Road, Castle Bromwich, had been a car garage since the early days of personal transport in the 1940s.
But last month staff at the Robins and Day Peugeot dealership shut the doors for the last time and made their move to a new site on the nearby Tyburn Road.
Many of the 35-strong team had worked at the site, which gets its name from the its huge clock tower, for decades.
Hassan Erfan, 47, from Mile Oak, in Tamworth, moved to Birmingham from his native Iran in 1988 and landed a job at the firm as a service adviser. The father-of-three, who is now service manager, said: “The Clock Garage was like a family business.
“Staff had been there for a very long time so naturally when you leave something behind like that there is sadness.
“It was a very old building but it was like a home.
“We got very used to the place and it was a landmark but people must look forward to a new place and new situation.
“The new building is definitely a lot more comfortable.” The boss at the garage, dealer principle Paul Cole, feels the site offers both his staff and customers a lot more.
He said: “I have been with Peugeot since 1991, but at this dealership since 2007, so I had already developed a soft spot for the old place.
“I know quite a few staff were sad to say goodbye to it but, in terms of facilities, the Tyburn Road site is much better.
“We have lots more parking space for our cars and for customers, and the offices have so much more room.
“I know we are considered to be a flagship dealership by the company.”
The move was prompted after Peugeot’s lease on the site ran out. The car giant has run a business there since the late 1960s and at one point were combined with the now defunct Talbot car firm, most famous for its vans and campers.
Talbot was the brand name given to vehicles sold in the UK in the early part of the last century by French firm Clement-Bayard.
It was briefly owned by American carmakers Chrysler before Peugoet took over in 1978.
But the brand was axed in 1992 when the production of its vans came to a close. The future of the site has yet to be decided by oil giant BP which now owns it.
