Black tie ball where staff, family and business friends raised a glass or two

A year of celebrations to mark their 50th anniversary has culminated with Turner Motor Group hosting a Black Tie Ball at The Athenaeum in Bury St Edmunds..

Over 120 staff and their partners, as well as representatives from organisations that the business has worked in partnership with over the last five decades attended the event.

The company was originally founded by husband and wife, John and Pauline Turner in 1965, when they purchased an old bacon curing factory on the High Street in Needham Market and converted it into a small garage selling used cars.

Today the multi-million pound turnover business has Hyundai dealerships in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, a service station at Tot Hill in Stowmarket, as well as an extensive property portfolio that extends along the A14 corridor to Cambridge.

Sadly John Turner passed away in 2012, but Pauline, together with sons Ian and Glen, who now run the business as joint MDs and the rest of the Turner family were at the ball to welcome their guests.

“We wanted to thank our staff and professional advisors by giving them a special night out with a Black Tie ball. They have all worked tirelessly day in day out over the years, to keep our customers safe and happy and they deserve this ‘thank you’ from us.” Ian commented.

“We held our 25th Anniversary here in 1990, when we were able to invite customers and it would have been lovely to ask them along to celebrate our 50th. But, the business has grown to such an extent, that there is nowhere big enough in Suffolk to look after them all. So, we have made sure that there are a variety of very special deals to thank them sincerely for their loyalty over the years.” He added.

Glen continued: “The individuals that make up the team at Turners are the backbone of our organisation and without them, our business wouldn’t be as successful, and our reputation for customer service based on family values wouldn’t be as strong.”

“We must be doing something right as the average length of service is over 12 years and once people join us, they tend to stay. However, we are always on the look-out for special people to join our team.”

Pauline Turner explained: “Never in a million years, did John and I think that the business would have grown to the extent it has and still be operating successfully 50 years later, using the traditional values and approach of treating our staff and customers as though they were members of the family. It is sad that John isn’t here to join in the celebrations as he would have been so proud.”