THESE were the wise words from Cyril Bainbridge when I met up with him and his wife and business partner Wendy . Together they ’ re celebrating 30 years of Cyril being in business as Bainbridge Engineering

All those years ago Cyril lived in Ampleforth and after a six year apprenticeship in engineering and working for other people he decided to make the bold step and go it alone . As an engineer he ’ d worked mostly on farm machinery , so it was a natural place to start working for the farming community . Initially he did a lot of work on a large Dairy and Arable farm in Kilburn , AE Banks & son , whom he still works for to this day . Whilst working on the farm he was also carrying out his own general repair and fabrication work , gradually this built up until he was able to work full time for himself .

In the meantime only 2 years into the business he needed a bookkeeper – enter Wendy who met Cyril in a Pub in the picturesque village of Sutton under Whitescliffe to discuss his books and thus begun their successful partnership . They ’ ve been together 28 years and have been married for five . Family members are also involved in the business , although Lauren is on maternity leave at present .

I met up with them at their beautiful farmhouse in the village of Cold Kirby just outside Thirsk . Cyril was very pleased to be able to buy back his original family home . Initially they lived in the cottage next door as the original house was virtually derelict . It ’ s always been their intention to renovate the old house , however building a successful engineering business and serving the 24 / 7 farming community doesn ’ t afford you much free time . However over the past 8 years Cyril has virtually single handedly restored and transformed the old family

home into what is now a stunning traditional old farmhouse with all the modern modcons . As ever it remains a work in progress . What Cyril really enjoys is taking the time to work out the next stage , plan it , making sure it ’ s absolutelty spot on . All in all he has done 90 % of the work inside and out .

It ’ s this approach that has made the business maintain its success . Cyril is one of those people who enjoys a challenge , never says no and won ’ t and hasn ’ t been beaten . However they do say behind every successful man ..... Wendy knows the business inside out and manages all the day to day management side of thing , with Lauren ’ s help , which free ’ s valuable time for Cyril to concentrate on the technical design and manufacturing side . Then in his unavailable spare time Cyril works on the house , during the transition period moving from the cottage next door to the main house Wendy has had to endure living in a partial construction site most of the time . Now as the house approaches completion she can now enjoy a well earned bit of comfort and splendour .

Bainbridge Engineering initially concentrated on general repairs and fabrication . Cyril has always prided himself on being able to make anything . In 1990 he started to focus on Keenan feeder refurbs which rapidly became a staple of the business and continued until 2001 when dreaded Foot and Mouth hit them as well as many others . This then forced them to go independent – no way was Cyril going to let it beat him . So he started to make his own feeders , which also needed buckets to fill them and so things progressed . Because of Cyril ’ s skill and uneering quality most requests

were of a bespoke nature . Now a firmly established independent , all manner of jobs came Bainbridge ’ s way including brackets , buckets , muck forks , brushes and adaptations for all manner of equipment . Requests for brushes were increasing , so five years ago they looked at buying a company that made brushes . However the right price could not be agreed so in true Bainbridge style Cyril decided to design his own . They say everything happens for a reason , well hey presto the BRS brush was born . The Bainbridge brush is now a runaway success , its robustness , versatility and coming galvanised as standard , places it well above others and as ever with all Bainbridge products the price remains keen .

Demand for Bainbridge products varies from constant to almost over facing as in true farming tradition everything is wanted Now ! This means wherever possible the most popular products are carried in limited stocks . Production has been speeded up with investment in the latest Plasma cutting

, welding and spraying technology . The remaining constant in every product is the strength and quality , one example being the scooped back of all shovels and buckets removing one of the key stress points . Most of the Bainbridge team come from farming families so they know and understand what farmer ’ s need .

Cyril is the “ Can do man ” never says no and always relishes in the challenge . Recent success ’ s have been a bespoke brush for a 360 Digger for a local building company and designing a large bucket complete with opening back specially designed for scooping up logs . However versatility is the key , they frequently do work for a local racehorse trainers looking after special horse walkers and treadmills .

I asked Cyril about his most unusual challenge , after some thought he said “ Wheels for a traction engine ”. Both wheels were fully designed and constructed from only the original hub , and would you believe it the outer rubber covering was made from a Tank Wheel !

Talking to Cyril and Wendy about the future both agreed that they have a great working template for the business , which

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