Martyn Wilson & Paul Lankford - Thirty Years in the Motor Trade
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Date25th May 2006
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PlaceChemistry Research Laboratory (CRL), South Parks Rd, Oxford, OX1 3TA
We were joined on Thursday May 25th by Martyn Wilson and Paul Lankford of
Blenheim Car Sales & Servicing at Yarnton. As well as used car sales, they
offer servicing and repairs for all makes of cars.
Martyn Wilson is the owner of the Blenheim Cars site which also includes a
petrol station and a shop with a post office. He amused us with tales of thirty
years in the motor trade. Outside work he owns a Ferrari and a Lotus and was
co-founder of the Piper Owners Club. (We didn't know either; Pipers were at Le
Mans about 25 years ago.)
Paul Lankford worked with Jaguar Sport Limited on the XJ8, 9, 15 & 19 race cars
as well as the first XJ220. He set up the XJ220 production and then built the
first DB7. When not busy with that, he ran a racing team of eight Caterham 7s.
Directions to the Chemistry Research Laboratory
OS 1:50 000 Map 164 Ref: SP 5165 0690
Her Majesty The Queen opened the new £60 million Chemistry Research Laboratory (CRL)
on 20th February 2004. There is a good picture at
http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/crl.html
The CRL is a large new silver, white and mostly glass building with a double row of
stainless steel chimneys on top. It is on the West corner of South Parks Rd and
Mansfield Rd in the Oxford University science area.
The vehicle entrance is between two large Victorian houses:
the Department of Statistics at 1 & 2 South Parks Rd.
The sign by the vehicle entrance is in gold letters on a blue background and reads:
CHEMISTRY RESEARCH LABORATORY
Entrance & Reception
ROTHERMERE AMERICAN INSTITUTE
Entrance & Reception
ROTHERMERE AMERICAN INSTITUTE
The vehicle entrance is opposite a small road called Le Gros Clark Place.
Once in the CRL courtyard the entrance to the building is through the automatic
circular doors on the LHS.
We may well have to split the car parking between the CRL courtyard and the other chemistry area
over the road, so be prepared to be directed to a parking place. Please come in a classic vehicle
if you can.
From the North
Approach South Parks Road via Banbury Road and Parks Road. After turning left into South Parks Road you will pass Rhodes House with a green domed roof (on the RHS) and Robinson Close (on the LHS). The entrance to CRL is on the RHS between the two Victorian houses. If you get to Mansfield Road you have gone too far.
Approach South Parks Road via Banbury Road and Parks Road. After turning left into South Parks Road you will pass Rhodes House with a green domed roof (on the RHS) and Robinson Close (on the LHS). The entrance to CRL is on the RHS between the two Victorian houses. If you get to Mansfield Road you have gone too far.
From the East
Approach South Parks Road via High Street, Longwall Street and St Cross Road. As you turn left into South Parks Road you will see on the LHS a lot of Red & White bollards around a sheeted building site. The CRL is then on the LHS immediately after Mansfield Road. Go past the sign for the pedestrian entrance. The vehicle entrance is then on the LHS between the two Victorian houses. If you get to Parks Road you have gone too far.
Approach South Parks Road via High Street, Longwall Street and St Cross Road. As you turn left into South Parks Road you will see on the LHS a lot of Red & White bollards around a sheeted building site. The CRL is then on the LHS immediately after Mansfield Road. Go past the sign for the pedestrian entrance. The vehicle entrance is then on the LHS between the two Victorian houses. If you get to Parks Road you have gone too far.
