Driven
Issue 3
Review of 2014
Contents. 4–9
RETURN OF THE BENTLEY BOY
Guy Smith gives an insight into the racing world.
10–11 CAMBRIDGE BIG WEEKEND
We took to Parkers Piece for the annual Cambridge Big Weekend.
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AN EVENING WITH STEPHEN ROCHE
The cycling icon hosted our charity evening ahead of the Tour de France.
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STAFF BIKE RIDE
We take a trip back in time as we spend some time with one of our very first customers.
AFTERSALES AWARD
Northampton Audi scoop an award for a second-to-one Aftersales experience.
18-19 FINN’S DAY AT AUDI
We took 5 year old Finn on a VIP tour to fulfil his dream.
20-21 PCP
A simplified take on our finance.
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INTRODUCTION TO THE VINDIS UPGRADE
Our innovative new way to upgrade your vehicle at a time that suits you.
23-24 FLEET
With an extensive Fleet department, we’re here for all your business needs.
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DYLAN HARTLEY
We partner up with the Saints legend.
26-27 LUCAS ORROCK
A look at the racing career of Lucas Orrock, as he climbs his way to a podium finish in the Volkswagen Racing Cup.
Our staff took to the road as they cycled from London to Cambridge raising money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
14-16 PHIL DIMMOCK
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28-29 D’PARYS BEDFORD
A review of a hidden gem in the heart of Bedford.
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CAMBRIDGE UNITED
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GET SOCIAL WITH US
We’re proud to continue our sponsorship into 2015.
Join the conversation with our social media accounts.
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of Driven Magazine. Although it has been a while since we last published a magazine, we’ve experienced a busy year. Many of these events that we have been engaged with are featured in this edition but perhaps one of the biggest attractions for us, and for our customers, was the Tour de France coming to Cambridge. Vindis Group sponsored the Cycling Village at the Cambridge Big Weekend and this allowed us the fortunate opportunity to be a part of the “TdF” celebrations. It was a privilege to be there and see the awesome athletes starting stage three of Le Tour from Gonville Place. It was also great for us to meet so many people at our stand on Parker’s Piece who drew on our wrapped car, took pictures with us and were carrying our water bottles and inflatable beach balls. This issue we have also chosen to include an interview with Bentley Le Mans winning driver, Guy Smith, as well as an interview with Lucas Orrock, who has made his debut in the Volkswagen Racing Cup in his Vindis Scirocco R, coming second in the Championship and very nearly winning the title in his rookie season. We are also featuring a restaurant review of D’Parys in Bedford – our current favourite spot; an introduction to our Fleet team and a very special piece on Phil Dimmock, who we believe purchased one of our very first vehicles from my grandfather back in 1965. I was very fortunate to meet Phil on the evening that we launched Vindis Huntingdon, our Volkswagen retailer, and Phil is a lovely man whose story is captivating and a must read. We have really enjoyed putting this edition together and another one will be due in spring 2015. As a new year dawns, we look forward to an exciting year ahead and if you would like to speak to us about anything that you have read, or would like to suggest future article ideas, please email driven@vindisgroup.com Jamie Vindis Managing Director Vindis Group
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Return of the Bentley Boy.
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“Of course you do all the work, the training and the testing with that goal in mind but when it actually happens it’s like you can’t believe it’s happened.” 6
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magine what can be achieved in 24 hours. The many things that you do during the course of a day; breakfast, work, at home. Remember the fact that probably at some point between 16:00 on a Saturday and 16:00 on a Sunday you will probably have roughly eight hours of sleep. Could you imagine driving several hours during a day in a high performance race car competing against some of the best drivers in the world? Driving in both daytime and evening, concentrating on cornering, overtaking and every other facet of a race. Bentley racing driver Guy Smith knows that feeling too well. Being part of a winning 24 Heures du Mans race team is no small achievement and the 2014 event saw Audi win for the thirteenth time finishing both first and second. However, back in 2003 the top two cars were not Audis but Bentley Speeds. The Bentley number 7 car was driven to victory ahead of its number 8 sibling in the ultimate endurance race by Rinaldo Capello, Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen, and Guy Smith. We first met Guy in January 2012, as he helped us launch the very first Bentley showroom to come to Cambridge. Since then, he has become not only an official Ambassador for the Bentley brand, but a friend of Bentley Cambridge and the Vindis Group as we’ve seen him attend many of our events. Driven caught up with Guy to talk about his career, his passion for driving and how it really felt to become a Le Mans winner. Born on September 12th, 1974, Guy inherited his love for racing early in his life from his father; “My Dad used to rally drive when I was first born so I would sit in my pram and watch him work on his rally car. We would follow him around and I would get really excited to see him come by, he was very good but stopped as he became more involved with business. “He sponsored a young racing driver called Dave Scott through karting to Formula 2 and we would go and watch him race. It was then I knew I wanted to be a racing driver as I thought he was God!” As he grew older, Guy continued to watch the racing that his Dad was involved in, and it was only a matter of time before he picked up the same passion to get behind the wheel; “I used to sit on my Dad’s knee and he would work the pedals and I would steer it! But it taught me from a very young age about car control. I actually started driving go-karts at the age of five but I wasn’t allowed to start racing until the age of ten. That has changed now and the age limit has been dropped right down to the age of 6!”
In 1986, Guy began to compete in karting and it didn’t take long before he was finding himself on the podium, and only one year later he was crowned British Junior Karting, Protrain Junior Karting and Scottish Open Karting Champion. He continued to win championships for the next four years and in 1991 he took the impressive title of McLaren/Autosport Young Kartist of the Year. During the rest of the early-to-mid 1990’s, Guy drove in a number of British Formula Championships with Ford, Vauxhall and Renault. Then in 1995, he took to the famous racing track of Silverstone as he test drove for the Williams Formula One team. He was influenced by one of the greatest racing drivers of all time; “Ayrton Senna was my hero growing up, as he was for most drivers from my era. I was lucky enough to meet him on a couple of occasions which was a dream come true.” Guy’s racing career was blossoming, and with many coveted titles to his name, it became clear that he really shone behind the wheel. But what would he have done if he had not gone into motor racing? “My family runs Swift Caravans. I would probably be on the line making caravans and trust me you wouldn’t want to buy anything that I had built!” As the turn of the Millennium approached, Guy began his next challenge as he moved into endurance racing. He competed in the American Le Mans series and was awarded the title of Le Mans 24 Hours Rookie of the Year in 2000.
“Winning Le Mans is without doubt the biggest win of my career.” His debut race for Bentley came in 2001 alongside Brundle and Ortelli for Team Bentley LMP 1, but unfortunately they had to retire from the race while sitting in third place. After being a test driver for Team Bentley in 2002, he then moved on to what he still describes as his biggest success in racing. “Racing wise winning the American Le Mans series in 2011 was great but, obviously, winning Le Mans is without doubt the biggest win of my career. “Initially, there is a feeling of relief as the pressure and expectations are so high but then a wave of excitement takes over as you start to understand what has just happened. It was pretty surreal, it really didn’t sink in for probably days if not weeks. “Of course you do all the work, the training and the testing with that goal in mind but when it actually happens it’s like you can’t believe it actually happened.
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“But to win in a Bentley at Le Mans, it doesn’t get any better with all the history of the Bentley boys and their success there it’s fantastic.” Guy and his co-drivers took two Bentley Speed 8s to first and second place at Le Mans in 2003, 73 years after Bentley’s last Le Mans win. This iconic win marked a triumphant comeback for the Bentley Racing Team. In 1923, a Bentley 3-litre finished fourth at the inaugural 24-hour race, and more honours followed – a win at Le Mans in 1924; the twenty-four hour world record at Montlhery by a Bentley travelling at an average speed of 95mph. The 6.5-litre Bentley engine was launched in 1925, laying the foundations for the famous Speed Six racer, the innovative 4.5-litre, and the glorious Le Mans triumphs of 1927 – 1930 when the fame of Bentley’s racing domination reverberated around the motoring world. These were the years of the Bentley Boys, a decade of extraordinary adventures, technological advances and victory celebrations, unblighted even by financial difficulties due to the intervention of diamond heir, Woolf Barnato, in 1926. The victorious team of the 2003 number seven Speed 8 were guests of honour at a celebration dinner held at the Savoy in London, the same venue and identical menu and drinks list as the Le Mans dinner in 1927. Despite racing for a number of teams before and after winning at Le Mans, Guy is still synonymous with the Bentley brand. He is a Bentley Ambassador and it is as part of this role that he began his relationship with Bentley Cambridge and the Vindis Group in January 2012. “It’s a really exciting role that goes hand in hand with my racing activities and keeps me very much involved in the road car side of Bentley, just as much as the racing side. I get to travel to some fantastic events, such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Pebble Beach, to talk about both Bentley Motorsport and Bentley Motors in general. “I was asked by Bentley Cambridge to attend the opening of their brand new state of the art Bentley dealership. It was impressive to see the dedication and commitment, not only to the Bentley brand, but to all the products that they sell, which pretty much covers the whole spectrum of car buying.”
“I really think Bentleys have it all, the full package.” Bentley Cambridge is now in its third year of trading and has a tremendous range of beautiful models in the showroom including the new GT Speed Convertible. Guy drives high speed, racing cars on a daily basis, but when he’s not out on the track, he still has the same enthusiasm for unique Bentley craftsmanship. “I currently have a Continental GT V8 as my road car and for me personally it’s my favourite. It’s got so much performance and great fuel economy and it sounds awesome!” At Geneva Motor Show 2014, we saw the unveiling of the Flying Spur V8 and GT Speed V8. With consistent innovation and improvement at the forefront of Bentley’s production, the legacy of the brand continues to grow. “When you think there is nothing left they keep finding more performance, better fuel economy, etc. I really think Bentleys have
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it all, the full package, as you have not only the raw speed but also the luxury to go with it, and there are not many cars out there that can offer that.” After some time working with Bentley developing the exciting new GT3, this year has seen Guy make an exciting return to racing with the Bentley brand; “I’m excited to be back behind the wheel of a Bentley racing car, the new GT3, which I have helped test and develop for ten months. We are starting a new journey racing in the Blancpain GT series racing at great circuits such as Silverstone, Nurburgring, Monza and of course the fabulous Spa circuit, which is a 24 hour race so it does feel like a bit of a return to where my relationship with Bentley started.” It’s clear from the passion he exudes when he discusses his career that driving is what is in Guy’s heart and keeps his blood pumping. For many of us, we can only imagine the adrenaline and excitement that a racing driver must feel, when they take to the race track to compete for a championship. For those lucky enough to be performing at the top of motor sport, like Guy, that feeling does not get taken for granted. “It’s really hard to put into words the feeling. There are so many emotions; excitement, nerves, stress, exhilaration, concentration! There’s a lot going on but there is the pure exhilaration of driving an amazing race car at the limit around some of the best circuits in the world such as Le Mans, Laguna Seca and Road America, when it’s just you, the car and an empty race track. Then there is the racing side of it where you have all of the above elements but you have the competition where it’s you against all the other cars and there is nothing quite like it!” Outside of racing, Guy is a keen family man, with a passion for outdoors. “Racing doesn’t leave a lot of time for anything else but I enjoy going to watch football. My local team is Hull City and they are doing quite well in the premiership so that’s good. I enjoy spending time with the family going on walks, biking, anything really to unwind away from the race track.” With his sheer determination and raw talent, things look to carry on getting better in his racing career and we look forward to working with Guy as he continues as a Bentley Brand Ambassador.
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Cambridge Big Weekend
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It was a monumentous occasion for the city of Cambridge, and we were proud to be a part of it.
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s Tour de France fever swept the nation, the Vindis Group were at the heart of the action as we hosted the cycling village at the Cambridge Big Weekend and the Tour de France 2014. The annual Cambridge Big Weekend has been a part of the town’s calendar for many years now, but this year the celebrations felt iconic, as the city sat in anticipation ahead of making history in Cambridge as we welcomed the Tour de France. On the Saturday and Sunday, we held a range of activities, such as the Vindis Fill the Fuel challenge, where we asked customers to pedal bikes and fill up the ‘fuel tanks’ with bike power alone. We saw the people of Cambridge transformed into Bentley owners, Van racing drivers, and even the ŠKODA Yeti, in the face-in-the-hole designs scattered around our area, as the crowds posed as their favourite. Crowds flocked around the Volkswagen up! that looked like a children’s colouring book. No we weren’t going crazy, we handed over the pens and let the people of Cambridge do their best colouring in on our vehicle. With Tour de France themed messages, names signed and pictures drawn, there was not even a glimpse of space left to colour in by the end of the weekend. The team from Vindis ŠKODA Cambridge came down to support the event, with an array of their finest cars on display, and their hospitality unit – which was a pleasant sight for the people of Cambridge as they came in from the scorching heat for a cold drink and a chat with our friendly team. How could we forget the Yeti’s? We were kept company throughout the weekend by two rather fetching ŠKODA Yeti’s, that took part in every activity going, including going head-tohead with the Anglia Ruskin Mascot in a bike race! As the weekend drew to a close, the atmosphere in the centre of Cambridge was electric as everyone waited in anticipation for the iconic cycling event to come to our historic town. The sun rose on the Monday morning and the crowds flooded in. It was like the world stopped for just one day, with excitement building and a real sense of community, the town came in force to support the event. And as you looked upon the crowds of thousands, you could see a sea of blue - the Vindis beach balls and water bottles proved a hit with the crowds on the hot day. It was a truly impressive sight, and an electric atmosphere, as we waved off the cyclists from Gonville Place in Cambridge. It was great to be part of history in the county that our business was founded in.
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An evening with Stephen Roche. In aid of Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.
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et us set the scene. It was a summer’s evening in the historic town of Cambridge, the atmosphere was electric as everyone waited in anticipation for one of the biggest events to come to Cambridge; the Tour de France. As organisers set up the structure for the popular cycling race around us, an exclusive few, as guests of Vindis ŠKODA Cambridge were invited into a private marquee for an evening of entertainment. An evening that was hosted by a cycling legend, Stephen Roche, who was one of only two cyclists to win the Triple Crown of victories. The year was 1987, the competition was tough, and history was made as Roche rode his way to first place at the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia stage races and the World Road Race Championship. There was no one more suitable to host our evening than the talented Stephen Roche, who is also a ŠKODA Ambassador. His charisma and charm kept our audience captivated. You could hear a pin drop in the room, until the roars of laughter exhaled as the incredibly witty Stephen joked about moments in his career. As we began the evening, guests excitably arrived, then were promptly given their VIP pass and shown to their dedicated ŠKODA host, who spent the evening entertaining them. An alfresco style dinner was served in the private marquee, whilst the Tour de France was constructed in the beautiful Cambridge setting around them. As onlookers surrounded the marquee, the guests of Vindis ŠKODA Cambridge enjoyed an informative, and extremely witty, insight into the successful career and life of Stephen Roche. Conducted by Richard Fawcitt-Jones from Volkswagen Financial Services, the interview explored the highs and lows of the Irish cyclist’s career, and took a personal look at the challenges he faced along the way. The evening continued with a Charity Auction and raffle, where an array of exclusive prizes were on offer, such as VIP Tickets to the Tour de France Cambridge Stage, a signed Rapha Condor JLT, and VIP Tickets to the final stage of the Tour of Britain, along with many other unique prizes. All proceeds made on the evening went to Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, a local charity that is dedicated to providing specialist palliative care and support to adult patients and their family, friends and carers. As guests left the VIP marquee with a smile on their face, the setting was picturesque and the city was sleeping. Parker’s Piece fell silent with nothing but the sound of the transformation of the quiet Cambridge green space to a venue to house the landmark occasion that was Stage Three of the British leg of the Tour de France. It’s a rare occasion that Cambridge welcomes one of the biggest events in sporting history, and we were proud to invite our customers to the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dine in the hustle and bustle of the Tour de France set up. We thank all of our guests for attending and supporting the event, and are pleased to announce that an incredible £1,661.25 was raised for the worthy charity so close to our hearts; Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.
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All in a day’s work. From London to Cambridge, the Vindis Group team flew the flag for Breakthrough Breast Cancer.
ack on a (thankfully!) dry Sunday morning in July, nine of Vindis Group’s bravest employees took on the mammoth task of a charity bike ride from London to Cambridge. They set themselves up for this challenge in order to raise money for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, a charity aimed at improving early diagnosis and developing new treatments for all types of breast cancer. The team comprised of members from all over the business, ranging from the IT department to Aftersales, and at no less than 60 miles this challenge was certainly not to be taken lightly. Starting from Pickett’s Lock in North London the ride consisted of a challenging route taking in some of the beautiful country towns along the way such as Roydon in Essex, and Ferneux Pelham in Hertfordshire. The team cycled down twisting country lanes winding up at the finish line in Midsummer Common, Cambridge to collect their medals. Speaking to the team upon their return they explained that the hardest part was not just the distance but the two rather steep hills they had to cross along the way, but nevertheless they all agreed that the pain and hard work was justified by the very worthy cause. The team pulled together and put in a fantastically valiant effort and all members completed the ride, raising money and having fun in the process. A very big well done to all of the team for taking on, and conquering, all 60 miles of the challenge for such a worthy charity. We wonder how many of them will be heroic enough to sign up again this year?!
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from a
dream to an everlasting
memory.
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ave you ever wondered who Frank Vindis’ first customer was back when he founded F Vindis and Sons in 1960? What the very first car he sold was? Well we believe we may just have the answers to those questions. When a man by the name of Phil Dimmock popped into our new Vindis Huntingdon retailer, clutching important documents and asking to speak to Gary Vindis, Chairman of the Vindis Group, our ears pricked up, and Phil went to excitedly tell us that he thought he may be the Vindis Group’s first ever customer. After a long conversation and looking at the handover pack that he was given when he purchased a car back in the retailer where it all began, we think he may be right. We didn’t want to miss out on hearing about Phil’s story and early memories of the Vindis Group so we invited him back to Head Office for a more in depth interview. Phil, or Pip as he was known by Frank and his friends, moved up from Edmonton, North London to the sleepy town of Sawston, Cambridgeshire in the 1960’s; as did many other Londoners because “house prices were a lot cheaper back then.” “I remember very well the first time I met Frank Vindis. He used to come out and serve us petrol because back in those days someone came out and filled your car up for you. One morning I went to fill up my own car at the time, which was a Hillman Super Minx, when I noticed a car under a white sheet in the showroom next door.” Phil has a glint of excitement in his eye as he remembered. “Frank was very secretive about the whole thing and said he wasn’t officially a dealer until the following week but I had a good idea about what it might be. You see, I had just read about this new car in a motor magazine. Well, he gave in and let me have a peak at the car.” And the car that started Frank’s motor business dream, hidden beneath the sheet waiting in all its glory to be admired was a bright blue NSU. Now, if you’re not as clued up on classic cars as you would like to be, the NSU Motorwerke AG was a German manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles and pedal cycles. It was founded in 1873 and was acquired by the Volkswagen Group in the 1960’s. Compelled by Phil’s story we asked what he thought when he first saw the car gleaming under the lights in the humble Sawston showroom. “Oh I loved it. I thought to myself, I think I might have one of them.” Phil remembers how it had a rear engine and was air cooled with no water to worry about. After our question as to whether the NSU was fun to drive, he laughed and continued; “Yeah, you had to put a bit of weight in it sometimes at the front, as all the weight was at the back but it was very fun to drive.” Phil’s memory of the vehicle is still as clear as the day he picked it up. He continued to recollect the registration as if he still owned the car; “It was HER 47F. I remember it because it was HER and not MINE,” Phil joked. Phil took us down memory lane as he reminisces about the many road trips he had in his beloved NSU. “Soon after I bought it, I had a tow bar attached to the back and I bought a little 12ft touring caravan. We set off as a family to Wells-nextthe-Sea and the following week we toured the Lake District and Scotland. The NSU was very reliable, we had no trouble at all with it.” After keeping the car for around six or seven years, Phil received a company car
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at his place of work so his cherished NSU was then polished and stored in his garage under a white sheet, just as it was when Phil first purchased it. After a while, Frank noticed Phil in the town without the NSU and asked where it was. Within a few days there was a knock on the door of the Dimmock household. Frank had sent a customer round who was interested in buying a second hand NSU as he didn’t have one available in his Vindis showroom. Phil explains how he was undecided whether to sell it or not as he was still quite attached to the car. “After one look at it the chap from Cambridge University loved it.” Ultimately, Phil decided to part with the NSU while someone could still enjoy it. After paying £699 for the NSU, Phil sold the car for £350. “I believe the chap that bought it off me ran it in this country for a few years and had it shipped over to Greece. I understand NSU’s were quite popular in Greece around that time.” We asked Phil whether he would go for another NSU if they were still around now. He replied with; “You’ve only got to look at it to see how stylish it was. It was far ahead of its time. Look at some of the cars now.” He goes on to say: “The biggest problem they had with the Ro80 was the engine. It was two 500cc engines coupled together and it was a rotary. The tips kept burning out on the rotor.” At present, surviving examples of the NSU are very rare and are now considered highly prized classic cars with values to match. This all appears to be thanks to perseverance with rotary design with the tip seal problem being all but eradicated. From the way Phil spoke very highly of Frank Vindis, it is clear to see that they had a good acquaintanceship in Sawston. Upon asking what attracted Phil towards buying from Frank, he simply talked about how well he got on with him and how he trusted him. It’s clear that Frank was a respected man in the community, and his legacy lived on not only through the Vindis Group but in everyone he came across. Phil talked fondly of the Vindis family, and as he paused to get lost in thought, he reminisced on his memories of Gary and Nigel Vindis at an early age. “I remember them both when they were this high” he smiled as he gestured his hand out to demonstrate how tall they were. “They got involved in the business at a very early age, I would go into the showroom and always see them in there helping their father out.” This family approach warmed Phil to the company, and 49 years later, Phil is still a proud customer of the Vindis Group. Following on from his beloved NSU, Phil has owned three Audi’s over the years and has recently picked up his ŠKODA Yeti from our Cambridge retailer. Swapping style and power for practically, he compares the two models; “I do a lot
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of work for the local community, so I use the vehicle for care rides. It’s good because they find it easier to get in and out of the car as it’s much higher.” He also noted several of the ‘simply clever’ features that are in his Yeti; “You can take the boot light out and use it as a torch, that’s a useful item. Also, there is an ice scraper in the petrol pump and a shopping bag holder in the back!” He described how impressed he was with it, but as with everything new, he needed to get used to driving a manual again as he had been driving an automatic for so long. Throughout his time as a customer of the Vindis Group, he has found his service to be good. Talking of the company, Phil explained: “They have done absolutely tremendous. From a little garage in Sawston to where they are now, they’ve still kept that family aspect. When I saw Gary Vindis at the opening of Huntingdon Volkswagen late last year, he still had the same characteristics that I knew in him when he was a little boy.” Phil took a moment to ponder over his meeting with Gary. “I’ve always felt like a valued customer. Frank has always looked after us, and now, as the company has expanded, the centres look after me. I even treated myself to a retirement present from Cambridge Audi – it was the most expensive car I’ve ever bought but it was worth it.” As Phil talked us through the vehicles he’s owned, he explained how he used to enjoy getting under the bonnet to fix his cars. “I used to service my NSU. It was so easy to do it was unbelievable.” It seemed that in the 11 years of owning the NSU (not to mention the 172,000 miles on the clock!), it left an imprint on Mr Dimmock’s heart, just in the way he made an impact on us that day we met him at our dealership in October 2013. He talked of the people he met along the way, and his experiences with the group. His enthusiastic and passionate personality made us simply warm to him right away. At the Vindis Group, we pride ourselves in great customer service, not only for that initial purchase, but for the many years of future dealings too. We like to make our customers feel special, and make them feel like they are valued, and part of our family. Phil Dimmock is a very special customer of ours, he knows our heritage, he’s experienced our story and we are proud to say that we believe he may be one of the very first people to have purchased a vehicle from our founder Frank Vindis in 1965. You can’t get much more genuine than that, and all we can say is thank you to Phil, for sharing his story, bringing a smile to our face and reminding us exactly what Frank Vindis built the company upon; core family values and a professional but personal service.
An Award Winning Service.
Vindis Van Centre Northampton scoops award for aftersales customer satisfaction.
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he only way to ensure that the customer is getting the best possible experience, whether they are enquiring, buying, or simply popping in for a service is to listen to what they have to say. We really appreciate the time you take to leave comments and suggestions for us, and you can be assured that we are always listening and learning. Our brilliant aftersales teams are a big part of the customer journey and, thankfully, their hard work has been officially recognised by Volkswagen Group UK. Ranging from service advisors to technicians, the Northampton Van Centre aftersales team are vital in ensuring that your vehicle continues to run as smoothly and efficiently as the day you drove away. Despite stiff competition the team rose to the top to reap the rewards of an outstanding aftersales performance for their work in Quarter One. The award stands as testament to the team pulling together to make sure that this busy period did not affect customer satisfaction once they have left the dealership. The Every Moment Matters rewards team arrived at the dealership back in May, on behalf of Volkswagen Group UK, to present the VW Commercial Vehicles 2014 aftersales award. The team were thrilled to receive this recognition, posing for a few photos along the way, and received a commemorative certificate to display. We like to ensure that all of our customers are on the receiving end of our, now award winning, aftersales service and we always look forward to welcoming you all into our retailer. We hope you’ll join us in congratulating the whole team at Vindis Van Centre Northampton on their continued efforts, and thanking them for their dedication to meeting the needs of the customer. In turn, we’d like to thank you, the customer, as we couldn’t have done this without you.
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Ambition from a very early age. Northampton Audi welcome a very special guest into the showroom to fulfil his dream.
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e love receiving feedback from our customers and back in May we opened a lovely letter from one of our customers. Gary Denyer is somewhat of an Audi enthusiast, having owned no less than three models since his son was born, and it seems it runs in the family as son Finn aspires to become an Audi designer when he grows up, not a bad aspiration for a five year old, we’re sure you’ll agree! The letter captured the hearts of all the team and we were particularly impressed by the two pictures that artistic Finn had drawn for us, where he had designed his very own Audi models, including a wonderfully creative dragster car. We all agreed that a simple thank you letter was not enough for such talent and devotion to the brand, so we invited Finn and his Dad back to Northampton Audi for an exciting surprise. With a big smile on his face Finn dragged his father through the doors of our centre where they were greeted by our team. Their experience started off with a tour around the workshop where our technicians gave them an insight into our servicing world. At the back of the workshop sat an Audi S3, waiting patiently for Finn. A beaming smile appeared on his face as he pulled the cover back to discover his very own personalised number plate. Gifts in hand, Finn didn’t think his day could get any better, but the most exciting part was yet to come. As we led him out to the forecourt his eyes lit up as he saw a beautiful Audi R8, adorned with a sign saying ‘Reserved for Finn Denyer’. For a five year old Audi enthusiast a spin in an R8 is a lifetime dream, and it was about to become a reality. As Finn is yet to gain his driving licence we took him out as a passenger to experience the thrill of Audi sport driving. Finn and his Dad left the dealership grinning like Cheshire cats, having had a wonderful day and we are pleased to have met such an inspiring little boy. We wish him all the best with realising his dreams and sincerely hope to see some of his designs in the showroom in the future.
Finn in the R8
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Finn in the R8 19
When buying a car there are many options on how to finance it. We have a team of dedicated Business Managers in our centres to help discuss what’s best for you, but for now, we thought we’d give a simple guide on the different 20 options available.
Personal Contract Plan.
(Dont worry, we’re here to explain.) Purchasing for Personal Use Personal Contract Plan (PCP)
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Personal Contract Plan, or PCP, is most commonly referred to as Solutions and is financed by Volkswagen Financial Services. A PCP is probably the most common method of financing a vehicle, as it allows customers the flexibility to adapt the specification and monthly payments to suit their needs. The value of the vehicle is split into three parts; deposit, monthly payments and optional final payment. This means the repayments are reduced into manageable fixed monthly payment with a final value outstanding, also known as the Guaranteed Minimum Future Value, at the end of the agreement. There are several options as to how to deal with this final amount, depending on the customers needs: 1. Give the vehicle back. As long as it has not exceeded its agreed mileage, been serviced on time (and usually by the manufacturer), and there are no repairs required beyond normal fair wear and tear. 2. Pay the outstanding balance. Either pay the total outright or re-finance the remaining balance, which can be done through us. 3. Use the remaining value as part-exchange on the Vindis Upgrade Plan This is by far the most popular option. If the vehicle is worth more than the Guaranteed Minimum Future Value (GMFV), then any of that extra equity goes to the customer to use as deposit towards their next purchase. Hire Purchase Hire Purchase works differently in that a customer simply puts down a deposit on their vehicle of choice and the remaining value of that vehicle is then divided equally over the duration of the agreement, which can be across a period of time suited to the customer, usually one to five years. Hire purchase is ideal for customers who want eventual ownership of the vehicle.
Purchasing for Business Use Contract Hire
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f a consumer is more interested in leasing a vehicle for business use, then a Contract Hire plan is an ideal solution. It is a method that businesses can use to finance their vehicles with a minimum down payment and an agreed mileage for the contract. The minimum payment is normally three, six or nine payments in advance, however, this can be as low as ÂŁ99 depending on the offer taken. For example, offers are normally calculated over a three year period and would be advertised as 3+35, i.e. three payments in advance then 35 payments over the rest of the term. Business Contract Hire is subject to VAT, of which 50% can be reclaimed, often called blocked VAT. At the end of the agreed period the vehicle is returned to the finance company. Please be aware that any damage must be repaired prior to return, or this will be charged in addition. Other points to note With a PCP or Contract Hire agreement, an annual mileage allowance is agreed in advance. Any miles in excess of the agreed mileage will carry an extra charge per mile. This figure will be established when the contract is taken out and will be billed at the end of the contract. Whatever method you choose to purchase a vehicle, it is always recommended that you understand the full payment structure including deposit contributions, the APR representative, the rate of interest and excess mileage charges. You can speak to any of our Business Managers for more information on finance options, or alternatively, our Vindis Group website and all manufacturer websites have very helpful guides and videos that explains more.
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“Everyone is driven by something, we’re driven by experience.”
Introducing the Vindis Upgrade Scheme.
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t the Vindis Group, we know how important it is to make our customers’ lives easier throughout the ownership of their vehicle. That’s why we’d like to introduce Vindis Upgrade, a plan that can be tailored to individual customer needs. Vindis Upgrade is an innovative new way of buying your next vehicle. This new plan allows you to have the freedom to change your car when it suits you. Whether it is an upgrade in safety, design or a change across our brands, we’ll let you decide which features are best for you. When you purchase your new vehicle from us,
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we would like to ensure that you are happy during every step of your Vindis experience. That’s why we will contact you at the optimum time for you to upgrade. But don’t worry, if you don’t feel that you would like to change at this point on the Vindis Upgrade scheme, it will not affect your current plan. In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding Vindis Upgrade, or surrounding your vehicle, a member of our highly skilled team will be more than happy to assist. In essence, Vindis Upgrade is made for you; your needs, your preference, your way.
Cleared for take off...
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Hiding away at an old RAF base, filling the former war hangers, is our impressive Fleet department.
he introduction of our Vindis Group Fleet (VGF) facility at Alconbury was the first of many steps that clearly signalled Vindis Group’s rising commitment to ensuring our business community can receive the same high levels of service as their retail counterparts. Under the watchful eye of Colin Hutton, our Fleet Director, this offers the infrastructures required to store in excess of 1,500 vehicles at any one time, while professionally preparing and distributing over 7,000 vehicles annually. Having an established highly trained and motivated fleet team of 16 people whom are totally committed to providing a service that is second to none has been one of the main driving forces enabling VGF to achieve these accolades. It has won awards from both its Customers and from the Manufacturers, ranging from the being the best Quality of Service provider to being the best Fleet Retailer within the UK. We continually look at how we can be innovative and improve on our service to enable us to exceed customers expectations. To this end in 2015 VGF will be setting up its own delivery company to ensure that the driver will have a vehicle handover that is as near to a showroom experience as possible. The services available range from basic vehicle pricing to whole life costs that can also look at vehicle tax implications from a business and personnel point of view, fuel analysis, VAT and Class 1A implications. This service is supported by having a full range of demonstration vehicles that can be utilised to enable our customers to make not only the right choice on price, but also on the fitness for purpose of a vehicle for specific job needs and grades. Over the last 10 years VGF has been able to work with its customers to enable them to select vehicle policies and choices that motivate drivers whilst reducing overall costs and administration to their businesses. We’d be surprised if there was another dealer group in the country who could say that their cars are prepared in a building designed to withstand bombs, cleaned behind a nine inch thick solid steel door, and had their pre-delivery inspection drive carried out on a runway access road, next to a nuclear bunker. It really is breath taking, and allows the Fleet team to provide a truly first class and bespoke service to hundreds of customers, covering all areas of the spectrum from some of the country’s largest leasing companies to some very small and unique businesses.
The most recent of these steps came at the end of last year when the decision was made to increase the number of Local Business Development Managers (LBDMs) within the company, and to have them located at the dealerships and dedicated to a brand. These dedicated individuals are on hand to assist local businesses in all aspects of managing their fleets, and all the complexities of vehicle purchase and leasing. Paul Andrew, Vindis Group Fleet Sales Manager said; “As a team put in place to service, and supply, our local business community we truly believe that every customer deserves an easy and rewarding experience, every time. Whether this is a single person, a local business, or a large corporate body, we must have the skills, knowledge and resource in the right place to ensure we can deliver the kind of experience we would be delighted to receive.” Our showrooms are beautiful places, full of friendly staff, and amazing vehicles, packed with incredible technology. Come on in and see for yourself, we are now ‘Open to Business’.
Customers of all aspects of our vast fleet operation can benefit from; • • • • • • • • • • •
Experience Demonstration programmes Knowledge Courtesy cars Funding options Service plans Dedication Collection and delivery Humour While-you-wait servicing Passion
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The Fleet Management Team
Chris Watkins National Fleet Sales Manager
Colin Hutton Fleet Director
Paul Andrew Mike Saul Group Fleet Commercial Vehicles Sales Manager Sales Manager
The Corporate Team
James Conway Senior Account Manager
Ian Measham Commercial Vehicles Manager
Andy Smith Fleet Admin Team Leader
Nicola Thompson Account Manager
The Local Business Development Team
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Craige White
Shona Edwards
Will Newell
Vindis Van Centre Northampton
Vindis Cambridge
Ĺ KODA Cambridge
Oliver Bird
Joanna Aldridge
Northampton Audi
Vindis Huntingdon
Nick Kealy
Juliet Grimsey
Vindis Bedford
Vindis Van Centre St. Ives
Tony Moore
Heather Cox
Bedford Audi
Peterborough Audi
Shane Young Cambridge Audi
If you’d like to speak to a member of our team simply visit vindisgroup.com
Northampton Saints Hooker, Dylan Hartley teams up with the Vindis Group.
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lthough he was born in New Zealand Dylan Hartley’s English mother ensured his smooth move to the UK and a highly successful career in rugby proves that New Zealand’s loss was very much England’s gain. After successfully starting his career at just 19 years old with the Worcester Warriors, and moving on to the Northampton Saints, Dylan, who holds the hooker position, captained the England team for the first time back in June 2012. Having been voted an Aviva Premiership Player of the Month in September 2012, due to his excellent personal and team performances, Dylan’s career has been going from strength to strength ever since. We were pleased to welcome Dylan as a friend of Vindis when he picked up his brand new Amarok from Vindis Van Centre Northampton in March. The timing couldn’t have been more fitting as Dylan had celebrated his 28th birthday just a few days before. Dylan’s friendship with us has further extended to a number of events, most recently one of our exclusive preview events for the all new Audi TT at Peterborough Audi. Dylan’s continued support means he has even been known to pop in to the Vindis Van Centre in Northampton for a cup of tea and a chat with the employees. So next time you are near our Northampton Commercial Vehicles retailer why not come in for a chat, you never know who you’ll be sitting next to!
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The race to success. Lucas Orrock talks to Driven about his racing career.
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rowing up in a family who shared one key passion, the motor industry, Lucas Orrock found a love for cars that he wanted to take one step further. His uncle, Nigel Vindis, had previously taken part in Kart Racing and that was something that inspired him to look into it further. An inquisitive teen, Lucas was always interested and asking questions about the cars in general and showed a keen curiosity to take part the motorsport world. Along with Nigel and his father, John Orrock, he attended a race day at Doddington Park to watch a professional kart team race, and it was at this point that he thought; “I’d love to give this a go.” After several experience days, his father John could see the beaming smile on his face when he got behind the wheel, and his sheer determination and commitment to get into it proved to his father that he was serious about it. At 15 years of age, Lucas decided to take his passion one step further as he took to the track as a karting driver. It was Christmas 2005 when Lucas received his first Rotax race kart, which for the following two years saw the father and son race team compete locally at club level. In 2007, Lucas began to demonstrate his talent and shine amongst the others, and at the Ace and King Championships race Lucas finished in a remarkable second place, behind the then British Champion. It was then that he began to show real promise to go far in the sport, and soon after he signed with Paul Carr to contest the 2008 Super 1 series. Although, when out on the track he is alone, his father John has been instrumental to the success that Lucas has achieved. He was at every race, every testing day, and provided Lucas with the key support that he needed as he reached nearer his dream. His father has been a big influence on him throughout his personal journey and racing career. John worked hard to push his son and give him all that he needs whilst keeping him grounded enough to know that in order to achieve great things you must work hard to get there. He taught him many things about the racing world and how to handle the success, as well as encouraging a positive attitude. He was described by Lucas as his idol, and Lucas has very positive memories of working with his father; “He taught me that it’s not how you win that matters, it’s how you handle the losing.”
In the racing world, Lucas spoke of his idol, Ayrton Senna. Although too young to watch him race, and his dream was never to be an F1 driver, he spoke of the admiration he had for the way he carried himself, dealt with situations and his mannerisms and determination that took him to be the iconic character that the world looked up to. Lucas described how he felt behind the wheel as; “It’s hard to describe, it’s an adrenaline buzz. The enjoyment of the sport comes from relaxing, it’s just you and the helmet and it’s my happy place. I’m a very competitive person and it’s about chasing the other drivers down. You can see what you’re trying to get to and it’s about reaching out and grabbing it.” At the peak of his karting career, Lucas Orrock won three British titles back to back, and in the karting world that is a remarkable achievement. In the history of karting, there is only three people ever to have done that, one being his sporting idol Mark Litchfield, who Lucas once ran from the back of the grid to see him race. This cemented Lucas at the top of his field. With the challenges seeming more achievable, the buzz began to fade and Lucas realised he had reached his highest level in the karting world. That’s when a new challenge came about. Although it’s something that he had never considered or planned to get into, as soon as he went out in the Vindis Group’s Racing Jetta with his Uncle, Gary Vindis, and father, John watching, he knew instantly that this was his next step. As he began his research into the sport, Lucas looked at every opportunity he had to better himself and he soon noticed than in order to be at the front of the race, the car he needed to drive was the Volkswagen Scirocco. This is the car that has taken him from strength to strength within the Volkswagen Racing Cup, as he achieved an impressive second place position at the end of the 2014 championship. Teaming up with KPM Racing, and sponsored by the Vindis Group, Lucas has entered the Volkswagen Racing Cup at an impressive level, winning Round Nine at the Spa-Francorchamps in July, and finishing in top five positions for the majority of his races, as well as securing the title for the fastest lap at the Snetterton 300. It is clear that his passion and commitment to the sport is channeled through his incredible racing skills. Here at the Vindis Group, we are very proud of Lucas’ achievements and we’re sure you will join us in wishing him the best of luck as he continues his racing career.
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Drink. Dine. Dream. 28
A hidden gem in the heart of Bedford.
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n the heart of a town with brewing, education and industrial heritage lies a hidden gem. With a mix of Victorian style and contemporary design, D’Parys hotel and restaurant takes you into a paradise of classic elegance with that added touch of unique and quirky features. As history goes, D’Parys has always been a Victorian hotel, located on D’Parys Avenue, just off of Bedford’s ring road, but after a £1.3 million renovation, they revealed a totally revamped boutique hotel as they relaunched on February 24, 2014. The new hotel and restaurant, designed by Chris Gerard, celebrates the area’s heritage using exposed bricks and iron to create a unique and frankly rather random mix of Victorian style and contemporary design. D’Parys Avenue oozes class, with large Victorian houses and a quaint atmosphere, you feel transported into another era. As you pull up to the restaurant, it’s hard to spot as it blends in so perfectly with the surrounding areas. You see the modern design complementing the old building and it’s clear that you’re about to enter something special. As you walk up to the grand entrance and through the glass doors, it is like being a kid again, walking into a traditional sweet shop. Molly’s Tuck Shop greets you – a sweet haven of nostalgia with 40 types of Hancock’s sweets tempting you in. It’s the unique touches like this that have you captivated in the venue. As we were shown to our table, we sat down on our mismatched chairs (we were informed that no chair in the venue matched) which added to the vintage feel and we looked up to a ceiling that was made out of wooden shutters and cupboard doors. We had a perfect view of the small, but well designed garden area, as well as the extensive restaurant that had ample seating. For a sunny Wednesday lunchtime, it was particularly busy, with families aplenty and kids of all ages being catered for. Couples and families were spilling out onto the tables of the beautifully kept garden patio area. They have taken on some of the very best of Bedford’s catering and hospitality talent to make sure every guest enjoys an exceptional and unique experience. This is represented in the extensive menu, that has a very British feel, ranging from Fish and Chips to Beef and Eagle Ale Pie. There is also a breakfast menu with continental, full English and pancakes as some of the delicious options. After deliberating over the menu, we opted to try two options between us; one was the more traditional meal of Home Ground 8oz Fillet Steak Burgers, accompanied with bacon, smoked apple wood cheese, red onion chutney, hand cut chips and baby leaf salad, and the other was a slightly more adventurous option of confit chicken, with ham hock greens, mix of beans, and tomato concasse and brie. The portion sizes were generous, and it was great value for money, and the extra touch of the suitable wine for each dish on the menu was very well received. The food was hearty and traditional, a sophisticated version of classic pub food, but with a quirky edge, presented in a rustic manor – everything you’d expect when dining in this boutique hotel. After we’d admired the food we were taken on a tour of the exquisite venue, and shown around the hotel. Each of the 14 rooms had it’s own distinctive style, and each one was named after a Charles Wells beer, who was heavily involved in the project and is the supplier of the beers in the restaurant. With a mix of superb antique furniture, and period features with a modern minimal finish, including the added touch of a roll-top bath in the bedroom, this is the perfect place to get away and escape from the everyday norm. It’s clear that the renovation on this Victorian Hotel was worth every penny, it’s charming, quaint, distinctive, unique and romantic; a perfect hideaway in the heart of Bedford.
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We're excited to be United. Cambridge United and Vindis Group team up as we continue our exciting partnership.
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indis Cambridge and Vindis Van Centre St. Ives, both part of the Vindis Group, are proud to continue their sponsorship this year with Cambridge United Football Club as they proceed into Sky Bet League Two. Vindis Cambridge and Vindis Van Centre St. Ives began their sponsorship of Cambridge United in 2012 as their official motoring and motability sponsors, and as the club progresses we look forward to developing the partnership. With Cambridge being the club’s home turf the sponsorship agreement fulfils Vindis Group’s commitment to supporting the local community and its businesses. As part of the agreement, Vindis Cambridge provided the club with a Volkswagen GT. The football club’s history dates all the way back to their founding in 1912 as Abbey United and, after turning professional in 1949, they changed their name to Cambridge United in 1951. For the first time in the club’s history Cambridge United’s hard work paid off as they saw themselves winning the 2013-2014 FA Trophy, with an impressive 4-0 win against Gosport Borough. This was then closely followed by another victory at Wembley in the Conference Play-Off Final, sealing promotion. Andy Sinclair, Brand Manager at Vindis Volkswagen Cambridge, said of the sponsorship: “We are looking forward to the season ahead, as we begin to actively take part in Cambridge United community activity. Cambridge United is close to our dealership, and we’re proud to be involved with the team as they go into League Two following an extremely successful season last year.” Vindis Group hopes Cambridge United achieves more success in 2015 and we wish the club all the best for the future. We further look forward to welcoming some of the club’s loyal supporters and players in our dealerships in the not too distant future.
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“ Don’t deliver a product, deliver an experience.
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The Vindis Group Volkswagen Bedford Volkswagen 01234 327932 Cambridge Volkswagen 01223 424472 Cookes of Fakenham 01328 864951 Huntingdon Volkswagen 01480 461019 Sawston Volkswagen 01223 833110 Commercial Vehicles Vindis Van Centre St. Ives 01223 653333 Vindis Van Centre Northampton 01604 210600 ŠKODA Vindis ŠKODA Bury St. Edmunds 01284 732160 Vindis ŠKODA Cambridge 01223 507507
Bentley Bentley Cambridge 01223 423515 Audi Bedford Audi 01234 320033 Cambridge Audi 01223 414181 Huntingdon Audi 01480 454545 Northampton Audi 01604 683555 Peterborough Audi 01733 384444 Vindis Group Fleet 01480 416900 Cambridge TPS Centre Bishop’s Stortford TPS Centre 01223 219100
The Vindis Group Driven Magazine. Issue 3, 2014 Vindis Group Head Office, 1 Washingley Road, Huntingdon PE29 6WP 32