50 GOLDEN YEARS AT CP HIRE

Richard Hunter was a lad of 15, “just off the school bus”, as he puts it, when he got his start with Norman Hutchison in the Articlave workshop where the CP Hire story began. And he’s been with the late Norman and his family business ever since, celebrating his 50th year in CP Hire this year.

“I started as an apprentice fitter but when we moved from Articlave to the new premises in Coleraine, my job gradually evolved to cover everything, from plant maintenance and fitting, stock management to hire sales and general management,” says Richard.

A decade later in 1983, Norman asked Richard, who now had plenty of experience in the business to move to the new depot opening in Belfast.

“I was the Depot Manager, and became Area Manager when the new Belfast outlet, also in Duncrue Street, opened,

“From there, I have done stints at all the new hire depots opening up,” continues Richard, “and then I went on to the hire desk in Belfast for several years, with I trained the hire team and managed everything – plant, people, deliveries and equipment. CP Hire has always been a good company to work for.”

Richard particularly enjoyed going to exhibitions. “I’ve been to Munich, Leipzig, Vegas, and France and I enjoyed seeing the latest plant and equipment.”

Despite a busy working life, Richard always makes time for the North West 200.

“I originally got involved through CP Hire, who are a longstanding sponsor of the race and then the people in the club asked me to sit on various committees and then become part of the management team.”