RUBY ANNIVERSARY FOR RICHARD AS INDUSTRY FAVOURITE CELEBRATES 40 YEARS WITH FAMILY BUSINESS

Fix Auto Oswestry’s Richard Edwards is celebrating a major milestone this week… 40 years of working for the Hitch family.

The hugely respected repairer joined Pant Motor Bodies, which is now known as Fix Auto Oswestry and Welsh Borders on April 12 1978, as a part-trained panel beater. He finished his apprenticeship under the guidance of owner Robin Hitch and been dedicated to the family-owned business ever since.

With Robin contemplating easing back from the business and his son, Lee, taking up the Managing Directors’ role, Richard and Lee were instrumental behind the business joining Fix Auto UK. Together, Lee and Richard developed Fix Auto Wrexham three years ago. The site has proven so successful, they further expanded it into a bigger new building last year.

Richard said: “It’s been a wonderful journey and I’ve loved every minute of it.”

“I am extremely lucky to have met and worked with Robin and Ann Hitch who I have the utmost respect for. Some people can’t believe it when I say I truly love my job as well as the company and colleagues who have made it so enjoyable. Forty years, it’s gone in a flash!”

While Richard has held the position of operations director since 2001, his hard work and dedication was repaid in November last year when he was officially appointed as a company director.

Paying tribute to Richard, Lee said: “Some say you should keep a business within your family, well we believe we did just that when Richard became a director last year! He’s shown incredible loyalty and dedication to my parents and has been the perfect mentor and colleague to me.”

He added: “We are extremely proud of our continued achievements and Richard has been at the heart of everything we have achieved. He is truly known as one of the industry’s ‘Mr Nice Guys’ and it really is a privilege to have him on board. Of course, 40 years service at one company is an incredible achievement and we are planning a presentation to mark it.”

Notes to Editors:

• Fix Auto UK is part of a global franchised network of more than 686 bodyshops.
• Fix Auto UK carries out more than 150,000 body repairs per year for leading motor insurance companies, fleets, and retail customers.
• Fix Auto UK, Lyndale House, Harcourt Way, Meridian Business Park, Leicester, LE19 1WL. Tel: 0116 3265401.
• Fix Auto Oswestry/Wrexham. Canal Side, Llanymynech, Oswestry, SY22 6EA. Tel: 01681 830793

Please Note:
For further information please contact Mark Richards on 07774 861596.
Email: mrichards@fixauto.com