The Morley Story

Morley Auto Services was established in 1966 by John Morley. John was originally employed by G. Linter and sons, however, after the proposed redevelopment of Redhill town centre, the company ceased trading. John took this as an opportunity to start his own company, and shortly afterwards the doors of J. Morley Auto Services opened for the first time.

Based on Oakdene Road, Redhill, John traded for many years before his son Ian reached school leaving age and decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and begin a career in motor vehicle mechanics. Ian served an apprenticeship at Reigate Garage to help him build the skills and knowledge to work in a busy garage, before joining his father in the family business in 1972.

By 1988 Morley Auto Services had grown and expanded beyond the limits of its original premises and the move was made to a larger workshop on Linkfield Street, Redhill, where it still resides today. John saw this as another opportunity to expand the services he could offer his customers, and added an MOT testing bay into the new workshop. Now known as JMK Morley, the company name soon evolved again and became known simply as Morley Auto Services, trading for many years under the watchful eye of John, before his retirement in 1999, where he handed the reins over to his son Ian.

In 1999 Ian’s son Ben carried on the family tradition and, after completing a four year course at East Surrey College, gaining a BTEC Hnd and NVQ Level 3 qualification, joined his father in the family business.

After six years not only working on customers cars, but also tinkering and modifying his own cars, Ben’s enthusiasm and passion for modified cars led him into the world of motoring journalism, where he is currently the editor of Retro Ford Magazine.