Ted de la Rivière 24 November 1935 - 19 July 2020

It is with the heaviest of hearts that I announce the passing of my dearest Dad or Ted as he was to countless friends, colleagues and customers. The Alzheimer’s disease that he was diagnosed with 5 years ago took him from us this afternoon with his beloved wife Sally (Mum) at his side.

He was our inspiration to the end. Dad’s passion for mechanical things saw him work with some amazing machinery and some amazing people. If I could have lived half of his life, I would be so chuffed. Mum & Dad took my brother, Dave and I to VSCC race meetings where we very soon learnt to love the sights, sounds and smells of Vintage cars. They took us to trade shows with the business and immersed us in the world of classic cars too. Dad built his Arrol Johnson from a wreck that was one of many major achievements. He prepared the race cars that Dave and I drove and they were some of the best times of our lives, travelling to the national circuits, sleeping in tents and sharing beers and BBQs with all that great racing family. I didn’t absorb anywhere near as much of his technical ability, but the passion was all there and when he and Mum were retiring from running the garage it was a no brainer to step in. Not to his shoes because I couldn’t fill those but the business he started has given me and my family a way of life that I couldn’t have done without the dedication that Dad gave to the people and the cars that he looked after so well.

His 20+ years at the helm saw the making of numerous friendships through his gentle friendliness and knowledge of the subject.

Nearly twenty years after Dad and Mum retired from the garage it is still so warming to be asked how Dad is doing and that was down to the gentlemen that he was. He will be deeply missed by a great many people.

Will de la Rivière

In Dad’s memory I will set up a Just Giving Page for donations to the Alzheimer’s Society. Details to follow soon.