A FAMILY-run garage in Yate reached the grand old age of 50 this week.
Stanshawe Service Station on Westerleigh Road has been serving the local community since 1967.

And to mark the occasion, its current owners, Rod and Sue Kembrey, decided to have ‘a bit of a do’.

Dressed in psychedelic attire, the couple threw a sixties themed party on Wednesday, complete with pineapple and cheese on sticks, devilled eggs and other snacks of yesteryear.

The assembled throng included some special guests from the service station’s past, including previous Stanshawe manager, Maureen Helley, who ran the business with her late husband Russ, from 1967.

John and Hazel Williams, who took over the management role from Maureen in 1973, travelled all the way from Bridport to join in the celebrations. They ran the business for 17 years until 1990, when the current team, Sue and Rod Kembrey took the helm.

Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall also came along to toast the popular garage.

Rod’s mum, Dora Kembrey, who set up the business with her late husband Allan, was there too.

Motorists topping up their tank on the day were in for a nice surprise – as a Shell ‘lucky pump’ competition was in operation and those who filled up at the right pump, at the right time, won £30 worth of Shell V-Power fuel vouchers. There was also one golden ticket to be won, the winner of which received a Fortnum and Mason’s hamper.

Stanshawe’s really is a family affair for the Kembrey’s - the business was set up by Rod's parents, Sue and Rod have been running it for 27 years, and all four of their children have worked there. 

Sue told the Gazette that it is the customers that make the job worthwhile.

“It is the daily interaction with members of the local community that I like best,” she said.

“Every day is different. You go in and open the doors, and at the end of the day you shut the place up, and you don’t know what to expect in between.”