9:23 am, March 24, 2016
TWO long-serving Ray Chapman Motors employees are set to retire from the Malton and York dealerships following 35 years of success with Volvo.
John Milburn and Mick Talbot will hang up their Volvo badges at the end of March following award-winning tenures in the service and parts departments of the family-run Yorkshire firm.
Milburn joined Ray Chapman Motors in April 1981 as a motor technician at the former Horsemarket Road site, quickly progressing to service advisor before taking the reins of the Malton site’s service and repair department, a position he has held for the past 23 years.
In his time at Ray Chapman Motors, Milburn twice scooped the Volvo Motor Technician and Volvo Service Advisor of the Year awards, in addition to Volvo’s National Service Manager of the Year award. Following a brief illness in 2015, he made the difficult decision to focus on enjoying life outside the workshop.
Meanwhile, Talbot first joined the company in 1978 as a parts assistant, also at the former Horsemarket Road site, returning in 1981 alongside Milburn to manage the Malton Parts department. After the dealership’s second site opened in York in 2000, Talbot accepted the challenge of developing the service department, moving into the role of York aftersales manager.
Talbot’s dedication to his career resulted in him being awarded Volvo’s National Service Manager of the Year accolade three times. He also scooped the Volvo National Parts Manager award.
The duo’s time with Ray Chapman Motors was recently celebrated at a retirement party in the company of the dealership’s former and current staff, partners and family. The two retirees were also presented with commemorative, engraved wine decanters by Ray and Duncan Chapman.
Duncan Chapman, dealer principal of the firm, said: ‘Both John and Mick’s retirements are a huge loss to the company. Their steadfast commitment and attention to detail in providing outstanding levels of care and attention for our customers has been evident throughout their time with us.
‘To say they will leave some big boots to fill is an understatement, but we have had a year to put a new structure in place and we know the team they leave behind will continue to fly the flag for outstanding customer service. On behalf of everyone at Ray Chapman Motors, I wish them both a healthy, happy and long retirement.’
MORE: Win a fantastic Easter prize if you’re the 1,000th person to sign up for ‘CD-Eggs’!
MORE: CDX16: WITMI host announced as dozens sign up for special session
MORE: Now Google and Facebook join our amazing line-up of speakers at CDX16
MORE: Best car on sale to be named at Autocar Awards – right after CDX on May 24
