In the Beginning
From The cornish Guardian, February 1998
One of the oldest-established garages in Wadebridge has a new proprietor who will be offering local motorists the benefit of his long and varied experience in the trade.
Derry’s Garage at the foot of Gonvena Hill will be offering the full range of service and mechanical repairs on most makes of vehicles, with particular emphasis on diesels.
Although the old name of Derry’s Garage has been revived for the new business, the man behind it is Billy Ahern, who originates from Swansea and has 25 years experience in the motor trade.
After serving his apprenticeship at a Rover main dealership, Billy was foreman in a Ford main dealership for six years and has been fully trained in modern vehicle electronics and engine management systems, and is fully conversant with diesel engine diagnostics.
A qualified MOT tester, he is the holder of a Certificate of Professional Competence in Road Transport Management and of the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health’s Managing Safely Certificate.
Billy’s last position was 10 years with Hyder, the largest utilities company in Wales, for whom he was a workshop manager dealing with a wide range of vehicle types.
After deciding to relocate to Cornwall the opportunity arose to start a new business based at Derry’s Garage in conjunction with his business and personal partner Jenny Grills.
Jenny, a local girl from Camelford, has experience in administration and will be responsible for the clerical aspects of the new business.
The emphasis from this family-run concern will be quality, reliability, efficiency at reasonable cost, with a friendly welcome thrown in for free!
The past week has seen the building undergoing a facelift which has included the erection of new signs, copied from the original Derry’s Garage ones found in the store room and copied by local signwriter Dominic Black.
The Growing Years
From The North Cornwall Advertiser, December 2008
Billy and Jenny Ahern have taken over Unit 9 on the Dunveth Business Park and have already installed an MOT facility and can carry out tests on Class 4 and Class 7 commercial vehicles, anything up to 3.5 tons. With his Stanhoy shaker plate to test a vehicle’s suspension and four-post ramp, the work can now be done by one man, making the turnover much quicker.
With 35 years in the trade, Billy Ahern knows most things about cars but he has always stayed abreast of the game and has been fully trained in modern vehicle electronics and all engine management systems. He is a fully qualified MOT tester.
His garage has all the modern diagnostic equipment demanded for the fault finding and code reading of the modern vehicle. Tyres, exhausts are all within his remit and garage is a Ferodo brake and Valeo air conditioner centre and body work can be arranged.
Derry’s Garage is a member of the Auto Alliance which guarantees work done across the nation.
