Ipswich's Mark Beadsworth's journey to star car man

“I once met Alan Sugar in a bathroom when I was on holiday in Marbella,” he chuckled. He struck up a conversation with the Apprentice star, and the two businessmen posed for a photo.

These days, Mark, known to his friends as ‘Beanie’, is often rubbing shoulders with celebrities, having transformed cars for the likes of Peter Andre and Ipswich boxer Fabio Wardley.

In 2022, Mark Beadsworth transformed a Range Rover for boxer and fellow Ipswich boy Fabio Wardley. Image: Charlotte Bond (Image: Charlotte Bond)Mark Beadsworth has transformed cars for Peter Andre, having met his brother Michael some years ago. Image: Mark Beadsworth (Image: Mark Beadsworth)

Mark met Alan Sugar in a bathroom in Marbella some 15 years ago. Image: Mark Beadsworth (Image: Mark Beadsworth)

However, success has not just happened to him; he has worked hard to build himself up to where he is today.

Mark, 50, grew up in Nacton. At the time, he was the only student in the area surrounding his home to go to St Alban's Catholic School, and he remembers being bullied relentlessly by other children calling him 'posh', a pronouncement that makes him laugh now.

Mark left school at 16 with no qualifications – but he did discover a keen work ethic. Three days a week, he would start work on the fruit and vegetable market in Civic Drive at 5am before racing to get to school for 9 o’clock.

Mark regrets falling in with the 'wrong crowd' as a youngster and was often brought home by the police to his despairing parents.

This taught him a hard lesson which he now impresses on his own children. “If you surround yourself with positive, successful people, you’ll strive to be like them and do better,” he said.

By hanging around with people who were a bad influence, the opposite came true.

Mark’s eldest child, a daughter named Josephine, was born when he was just 17. Now a dad of seven and grandfather of two, Mark credits Josephine’s birth with his decision to settle down, mindful that he was now a parent with responsibilities.

Mark, his son Dylan and friend Gareth Lake make their way to Essex to film an episode of TOWIE. Image: Mark Beadsworth (Image: Mark Beadsworth)

Mark Beadsworth with his son, Dylan, at the O2 Arena on Sunday ready for Fabio Wardley's fight against Frazer Clarke. Image: Mark Beadsworth (Image: Mark Beadsworth)

The Ipswich businessman is a big believer in encouraging youngsters from around our town to dream big – and never to let past mistakes hold them back.

He has worn many hats over the course of his working life, which has included window cleaning, doing building work for Romanichal businessman Alfie Best, and being a doorman at clubs in Ipswich such as Yates.

For some years, Mark ran his own club in Ipswich, The Purple Lounge. It was here that he met Michael Andre, the brother of Mysterious Girl singer Peter Andre, who he now describes as a friend. He also met several Stars of the new hit TV show The Only Way is Essex (TOWIE).

Mark Beadsworth transformed an Audi for Peter Andre's son, Junior, in 2022. Image: Mark Beadsworth (Image: Mark Beadsworth)

Boxer Fabio Wardley holding Mark's fragrance line, DB Fragrances, which he was wearing on Sunday night. Image: Mark Beadsworth (Image: Mark Beadsworth)

Mark met several stars on Sunday night, including Love Island Star Megan Barton-Hanson. Image: Mark Beadsworth (Image: Mark Beadsworth)Mark met several stars on Sunday night, including boxer Derek Chisora. Image: Mark Beadsworth (Image: Mark Beadsworth)Mark met several stars on Sunday night, including actor and film producer Terry Stone. Image: Mark Beadsworth (Image: Mark Beadsworth)

However, the club didn’t work out in the long-term, leaving Mark facing bankruptcy. By his mid-30s, he was selling flowers outside Debenhams.

Around seven years ago, Mark had the idea of starting Ipswich Alloy Wheels. He had always loved cars, and says he bought his first, a Cortina Mk2 1600E, when he was just 14, using money he earned from his paper round.

He taught himself to drive on land owned by a friend’s family in Bramford Road, and by 15, he was taking part in races against grown men.

The business started out with Mark working from a van before he purchased premises in Greenwich Close.

In 2022, Mark transformed an Audi at the request of Peter Andre for his son, Junior.

Since then, he has given a ‘facelift’ to boxer Fabio Wardley’s Range Rover and appeared in episodes of TOWIE himself, including the show’s 2022 ‘juicy’ finale.

Last Sunday, Mark and his son Dylan could be found cheering on Wardley from the ringside at the O2 Arena.

Mark has just brought out a line of fragrances, DB Fragrances, which Wardley was wearing on the night. Afterwards, his opponent Frazer Clarke joked that Wardley smelled fantastic.

Mark said that he hopes his story can inspire not only his own children, but other youngsters growing up in Ipswich.

“You can always make something of yourself,” he said. “Just because you fail at school, it doesn’t mean you fail at life. I’ve been to places now that I never dreamed I’d go to as a kid.

“You shouldn’t let past mistakes define you.”