A long-standing garage in Dover has closed after 48 years of trading in the town.

BCB Dover at Western Heights, Centre Road, was a family-run business that closed on May 31, due to the retirement of owner Ray Couzens, 62.

His son Wayne Couzens, 42, who worked there for 20 years, said: “He would have really loved one of us to take over but he totally understands.

"Things have to come to an end. I am devastated, I was there for 20 years myself.

"We’ve grown up with my dad always being there. It’s a huge part of our lives. An family institution.”

The garage was started by Walter Couzens and Fred Beustead in 1967 after Wayne’s grandad Walter took redundancy from the army where he was a mechanic.

The third partner Fred Beacham joined 18 months later.

It was originally planned to be a haulage company but when a borstal officer from what is now Dover Immigration Centre broke down in his car and arrived at BCB asking for help, a mechanical repair workshop was spawned.

In 1968, Ray Couzens started working for his father and in 1969 Walter Couzens bought the other two owners out of the business.

In the mid-70s Ray’s brother Roy Couzens left the military and started working at the garage for one year before he set-up his own business.

During the 70s, BCB evolved again and expanded into vehicle body repairs from Kenning Car Hire Dover and then the Canterbury and Gillingham depots. It also became an MOT testing station until May 2015.

By 1978, founder and owner Walter retired and his son Ray continued at the garage.
Wayne started as apprentice in 1990 as a light vehicle body repair technician where he worked up until 2011.

In the mid-90s, his brother David started working at BCB before leaving for a career in the police in 1999.

In 2000, Ray’s wife and David and Wayne’s step-mum Corinne began working in administration at BCB until it closed this year.

The garage survived changes, recessions and secured major contracts with HM Customs, Kent County Council, Hollis Motors and many more.

The land will be passed back to the council. It is not know what it will be used for in the future.