Dick Crosthwaite

CROSTHWAITE & Gardiner’s workshops sprawl across the East Sussex site like a family tree, having expanded relentlessly since the company moved there in 1969. Another major branch is soon to be added to that tree, but already it has an impressive history, these buildings having witnessed everything from the Napier-Railton to the churning out of every seriously competitive Jaguar racing six, plus the rebirth of the Silver Arrows, of course.

Crosthwaite & Gardiner has come a long way – and it feels like we have, too. We are being led through the labyrinth, bustling with activity yet also almost a museum of machinery, by MD Ollie Crosthwaite who punctuates our journey by asking members of staff if they have seen father, founder and patriarch Dick Crosthwaite. The doyen of classic engineers was in a meeting just moments before, but has since disappeared and this is not an unusual occurrence. Dare we suggest a tracking device?

When he is located we arrange to meet in the building known as Dick’s Toybox. The long shed houses his projects, his bicycles and much of his ephemera. At the end of the Toybox is a French café, perfectly detailed by Goodwood decorating master Peter Russell and complete with a 1956 Vendo 81 Coke machine. We are sitting at a large table by the roller door. This is where Dick entertains. Dick always entertains, which is more than likely why Ollie asks to sit in and looks a little nervous as the tape