B.C.Partridge was established in 1966, when its' founder, Basil Partridge, purchased the premises from his former employers, G.E.O Hopkins & Sons, who's main business was located in Ledbury. This followed the deaths of Mr George Hopkins, and later his sister, which prompted the realisation of their assets. At that time, the business centred mainly around agricultural engineering, with car maintenance in the minority.
The building that originally stood upon the land as a hop kiln, was converted in the early 1930's into a house and workshop, and if you look at the walls of the M.O.T bay today, the location of the hop furnaces can still be made out. After Basil took over the premises, he enlarged the site and relocated the petrol pumps to the front of the house, where previously the lawn had stood, retailing petrol at 2s 11d per gallon for the now non-existent 5 star.
As the years passed, the need for farmers to have their equipment maintained slowly diminished, prompting Basil to move the emphasis of his business to cater to the growing trend for car ownership. With this in mind, an old Land Rover was "persuaded" to accept a hand built crane, and an old Bedford bus converted into a specialised Recovery Vehicle. At the same time, the business gained authorisation to test vehicles for the Ministry of Transport.
As the number of vehicles on the road increased, there became a need for better equipped, more comfortable recovery vehicles. Basil developed his fleet to meet that need, and his yellow liveried breakdown trucks became a familiar site on the roads, not only to the people of Herefordshire, but also farther afield.
Sadly, Basil passed away in 1995 leaving his business in the hands of son Robert, assisted by Basils' widow Heather, who has remained at the helm since the business began all those years ago. She can still be seen in the office today, and providing a personal filling service at the petrol pump.
These days B.C Partridge are appointed agents for the majority of major recovery clubs, comprising a fleet of eight recovery units, modern workshops and paint/bodywork repair facilities, ensuring the highest levels of customer service. To date, the business continues to expand with the demands of the motorist, Robert ensuring that those demands are met, with plans for further advancement already under way. Coupled with a friendly atmosphere and highly trained staff we aim to continue providing a personal, professional service.
B.C.Partridge is happy to discuss any requirements that you may have for your vehicle, so why not join the many happy clients already utilising our services and give us a call or drop in to see us, you will be surprised at our competitive rates.