WET fish and a Nissen hut in a disused quarry were two of the ingredients at the birth of an Oxfordshire business that grew into a thriving Mercedes-Benz dealership.

Roy Partridge, who has just sold his Mercedes truck franchise to Midlands dealers Mudie-Bond, set up the Evenlode Truck Centre at the junction of the A40 and Eynsham Road, in Cassington, in 1951.

In the early days, operating from a 32ft ex-Army hut, Mr Partridge would repair anything - cars, trucks, tractors, farm machinery, stationary engines and builders' plant.

Mr Partridge said: "One thing that helped me get going was a firm called H. Mudd and Co of Grimsby who set up a wet fish depot on my land.

"Its delivery trucks ran every night. They left at a week's warning after Associated Fisheries bought them. Luckily the work was replaced within the week by H. Tuckwell & Son. We maintained their trucks and gravel-extraction plant for years."

He took on contracts with Dodge and Commer, but accurately foresaw a reduction in business on that front when Chrysler bought out Rootes.

Then he landed the Mercedes truck franchise which he has run successfully for the past 18 years. He added: "When I started there were Hartwells Ford Trucks where I did my apprenticeship, Hartwells BMC, Morris Garages and City Motors Bedford. I outlasted them all."

Evenlode's present managing director Brian Wiltshire said the merging of the business with Mudie-Bond, following Mercedes decision to reorganise UK dealerships, was going smoothly.

He said: "This is a practical and strategic amalgamation and I am delighted to say that it is enjoying a seamless transition.

"For our customers it will be business as usual, plus the benefit of more instant access to wider spares holding and enhanced back-office support."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.