The dealer principal at a car dealership in Grantham is celebrating after notching up 35 years with the firm.

Mark Colclough (pictured) runs Chandlers Mitsubishi, in Main Road, having started with the company in an admin role in August 1979.

Colclough joined Chandlers straight from college and started off in the company’s agricultural hardware store in Westgate. After three years he became an agricultural sales area manager before being promoted to a depot manager in 1991.

He began looking after the vehicle side of the business in 2000. The company has been a Mitsubishi dealer for four years.

Colclough said: “When I started there wasn’t really any such thing as training. It was a matter of ‘here you go, get on with it’. But I’ve enjoyed working for the company over the years and so I’ve always been happy here. It’s great to reach the 35-year milestone.

“It’s great to be part of a family business and I’m happy working in an environment where I am left to get on with things. I’ve got the freedom and support to do whatever I want to do and that has worked well for all of us. This is still very much a family-business and it will remain so and I’m proud to be part of it.”

Chandlers is a family-run business established in 1935 and owned by the Pell family. Howard Pell is the current managing director.

Pell said: “We would like to thank Mark for his loyal service. To remain with the same company for 35 years is rare in this day and age and we’re very glad to have Mark here. He is passionate about what he does and we look forward to the coming years with him on board.”