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Chris Hancock
Service Advisor
Bentley Pangbourne
 From a very
early age Chris Hancock used to dream about working on Bentley and
Rolls-Royce motor cars. As a 15 year-old, Chris, originally from
Dorchester-on-Thames, joined a Wallingford firm of motor mechanics
as an apprentice and learned to service all makes of cars. But it
was Bentley and Rolls-Royce that really captured his imagination.
“I think it was the quality that attracted me, together with the
sleek lines and the whole image,” he recalls.
However, he knew that if he was going to realise his dream of
working with these beautiful motor cars, he had to prove himself to
be a special mechanic. Attending Abingdon Technical College he took
the Motor Vehicle Craftsman Course and passed with honours, scooping
the college prize.
Next he passed his Motor Vehicle Technicians Course at Headington
College in Oxford and completed his apprenticeship at F.H. Jenkins
of Wallingford before finally moving to the Bentley and Rolls-Royce
dealership of Mead of Maidenhead in 1970.
“It was my dream job,” recalls Chris, who has seen the two marques
evolve tremendously over the years. “They have gone through so many
technical improvements, but the biggest and the best has to be the
advent of the turbo in the 1980s. From then on the ride became
really exhilarating.”
In 1971 Chris married Pauline in a double wedding with her sister
and brother-in-law. They went on to have two daughters, now both
grown up. The couple bought a house in Maidenhead and Chris is
passionate about his garden, as well as being a keen DIY enthusiast.
He and Pauline also share a love of dogs, especially Belgian
Shepherds, and regularly spend time at their caravan on Hayling
Island.
Chris’s love affair with Bentley and Rolls-Royce has also continued
over the years. He worked as vehicle technician at Mead of
Maidenhead for 12 years before being promoted to Workshop Foreman
and finally to Workshop Controller.
During his 30 years of service with Mead of Burnham, he completed
many courses with both Bentley and Rolls-Royce, which has given him
a unique opportunity to improve his skills.
Chris has also developed many long lasting and rewarding
relationships with customers, some of whom he still has the pleasure
to look after to this day.
Chris joined Broughtons of Surrey five years ago when they opened
the Byfleet dealership, in the position of Workshop Controller. Last
year, however, he transferred to Bentley Pangbourne where he is now
Service Advisor, liaising between customers and the workshop.
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