Bob Cherry & Matthew Watts; Cropredy Bridge Garage, UK

The picturesque village of Cropredy, Oxfordshire, home to approximately 700 souls, is little known to most, even to those living within a 20-mile radius of the place. However, it is acknowledged by three groups of people on a world-wide basis. First, the village has strong links with the folk group Fairport Convention and for f40 years, or more, thousands from all over the globe have attended the annual summer Fairport Cropredy Convention music festival. Second, historians too are familiar with a battle which took place there between the Royalists and Parliamentarians in the Battle of Cropredy Bridge in 1644 during the English Civil War. A third group of people, owners of Jensen cars, will also be fully aware that Cropredy Bridge Garage is a center of excellence for the repair, service and restoration of their revered vehicles. So, how did this sleepy rural hamlet become synonymous with a luxury car brand? VR’s European Editor, Mike Jiggle, spoke to Bob Cherry and Matthew Watts, MD, of Cropredy Bridge Garage to find out.

VR: Bob, you have spent most if not all of your life in and around Cropredy?