XQ 6 7KH
7!)2!5 0(!2-!#9 4HE $RIVE 4HRU 0HARMACY 3COTT 3TREET s 0HONE &REE AND AVAILABLE PARKING 'REY 0OWER DISCOUNT
Inside The Sun
%OHQKHLP 0DUOERURXJK
Wednesday March 17, 2010
New Ford owners Lindsay goes green Lindsay Thomason is celebrating both St Patricks Day and his birthday.
Page 3
Crusading principal Wayne Hegarty is an outdoors man at heart.
Page 10 DRIVE ON BRO: Paul and Andrew McKendry in the driving seat at the Ford dealership in Nelson Street. Photo: Richard Miller.
McKendry brothers win takeover deal
Marlborough’s great axeman A tribute to Geoff Hocquard.
Page 24
Sun Weather Today
5-17
Thursday 9-23 Friday Saturday
11-22 7-25
Outlook for Today Showers clearing, then fine. Southerlies.
Everyone gets The Sun Total market coverage in Marlborough
By Richard Miller Local car dealership McKendrys Motors has revved up business by taking over Blenheim’s Ford dealership in Nelson Street. Managing director Paul McKendry said he was delighted to have clinched the deal that will see brother Andrew and himself become owners of McKendry Ford on April 1. “I have had my eye on it for some time and I am delighted that we have been successful,” said Paul. “We intend to grow the business with more stock, more staff and more selection of Ford products.” He praised the “loyal staff” of ten and said
they would remain and more would be added as the business expanded. “It will increase our opportunity to have more market share and is really pleasing as it will give another string to our bow.” He said nothing would really change either for customers or staff except he personally would be moving to head the new Nelson Street premises while the rest of McKendrys 18 staff would remain at its High Street base. He said it was especially pleasing that a local business with more than 40 years experience in the motor industry in Blenheim was taking over from out-of-town owners.
“It has been a very amicable arrangement and it needs to be that way to ensure a natural transition for all staff and customers so that they can carry on business as normal.” He said the motor industry in Blenheim faced a difficult time for the balance of the coming year but he wanted to concentrate on the positives of developing an exciting new business. MS Nelson Ford boss Alan Kirby, who has managed the Blenheim Ford dealership since 2006, said it had been “really challenging” running the business from Nelson.
Continued on page 3