Former colleagues who had worked at Wincanton Garages in Helston jumped at the chance to get together once again and reminisce and catch up at a reunion described by organises as "brilliant."

Wincanton Garages had operated from Penzance Road where the Lidl supermarket stands today. Among those at the reunion, held at the May Tree, were were Roy Christophers, general manager; John Pooley, service manager; Brian Banks, accountant, and Chris Gray, a former apprentice who came all the way from Tasmania with his wife, Philippa.

Organisers Jean and David Gray said: “It was brilliant, it was good to reunite. There were about 50 of us in total. They were so delighted, we pretty much had to drive them home as no one wanted to leave. We can’t compliment the May Tree enough for the food, and the service.”

David added: “Roy Christophers is nearly 90 and his finger is still on the pulse. He’s fixing up and selling Isuzu trucks now, that’s the kind of calibre we’re talking about here. My son attended. He served as an apprentice at the company and he now runs his own garage in Australia.”

The company was set up in 1920 by Leonard Christophers and his wife, Millicent, as a haulage business. This was sold to Cow & Gate in June 1940 and renamed Wincanton Garages. Unigate was formed when Cow & Gate and United Dairies amalgamated.

Roy Christophers rejoined the company in May 1947, starting as a fitter, and then moved to St Johns as commercial foreman of workshops and outside repairs. He was made manager and then director of Wincanton Garages Ltd on October 23, 1969.