RAY HILLIER

Ray, it was back in 1985 that you and business partner Tony Hill founded Hillier Hill. Tell us a bit about your Rolls-Royce experience prior to then and the challenges of setting up a new business in the ’80s.

I had originally been an apprentice with Aston Martin in Newport Pagnell. Unfortunately, they went bust in 1973 and I found myself out of a job. Rolls-Royce decided to recruit some of the skilled workforce of panel beaters, metal workers, coachtrimmers, finishers and painters and take them down to London. They were also compelled to take on any apprentices that wanted to go, and so I eventually found myself walking into the Rolls-Royce service centre at Hythe Road.

My apprenticeship was a bit of a baptism of fire as I hadn’t been through the Rolls-Royce training school, so I had to sink or swim. Luckily I met some amazing people, including Tony Hill, John Creasy and many others both young and old, who helped and guided me through my apprenticeship.

After another stint at Aston Martin, I subsequently got a job at Mann Egerton’s Rolls-Royce service depot in Kings Cross. This was my cathartic moment, as it felt like coming home. I knew straight away that Rolls-Royce and Bentley were what I wanted