Roy returns to Harpenden showroom after 36 years to the day

HARPENDEN, U.K. - March 26, 2014 - PRLog -- In 1977, the film ‘Star Wars’ was released, Apple Computer was born, Concorde began scheduled flights from London to New York and Roy Roberts started work as a trainee car salesman at the former Oggelsby’s dealership on Luton Road, Harpenden.

Exactly thirty-six years to the day later, 60 year-old Roy returned to the same site, joining Brayley Kia and Mazda as its latest sales executive, albeit with a brand new desk.

Having started his motor industry career “one foggy September morning in 1972” as an apprentice at the Vauxhall plant in Luton, Roy graduated as a design engineer from Hatfield Polytechnic, now the University of Hertfordshire, before joining Oggelsby’s, where he sold Vauxhall Vivas, Victors and Chevettes for the next thirteen years.

Ultimately becoming Dealer Principal of Oggelsby’s, Roy then moved on to other roles within the motor industry before returning to Harpenden in 1994 to set up his own used car business in Southdown, which he managed for over ten years. Sales positions at two other dealerships in Hertfordshire followed, prior to his appointment at Brayley Kia and Mazda, which remains the only new car showroom in Harpenden.

Roy admits to having petrol in his veins:

“It’s great to be back and in a way it feels like coming home. Back then we had a fuel forecourt at the front of the dealership and the old cinema was next door. Car retailing has evolved massively since my first job but I’ve always enjoyed meeting new people and looking after them and that’s never changed.”

Brayley Kia and Mazda’s Managing Director, Paul Brayley, first met Roy in 1991 when they both worked for the former Davenport Vernon car retail group. Commented Paul:

“Many of the team at Harpenden today weren’t even born when Roy first started here but despite all the advancements in cars, good old fashioned customer service remains timeless and Roy’s skills are testament to that. We’re delighted to see him back where it all began.”

PHOTO CAPTION:

Pictured is Roy Roberts, sales executive at Brayley Kia and Mazda in Harpenden. When he first started his career at Oggelsby’s in 1977, car cleaning was an expected part of the salesman’s job. Roy needn’t worry now as Brayleys’ has a dedicated on-site valeting team.