Top U.K. motor trade figure to be at conference

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 35

Top U.K. motor trade figure to be at conference

A distinguished English motor business man will be in Christchurch for the motor industry conference, conducted by the Motor Trade Association and the Motor Vehicle Dealers’ Institute, from October 11 to 15. He is Mr J. A. Williams, chairman of the Public Policy Committee of the Royal Automobile Club and also of the Joint Standing Committee of the Royal Automobile Club, Automobile Association and Royal Scottish Automobile Club. After serving in the 11th Armoured and 6th Airborne Divisions, both of which he commanded during World War 2, he joined a family business

in 1946 and within six months was appointed managing director of the company. It grew in size and became one of the leading distributors in Kent, handling Jaguar/ Daimler, Standard/ Triumph and Rover distributorships, as well as two Austin retail outlets. In 1972 he accepted an offer to sell to the DuttonForshaw Group, one of the five largest public companies in vehicle distribution in Britain. , Mr Williams joined the group as general manager and subsequently became a special director and director on the main board.

Mr Williams is a nationally known figure in the motor industry. He has served on the Motor Agents Association Council for 38 years and after seven years as treasurer was elected president in 1973. He has also served on the council of the. Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders for 28 years and has twice been elected chairman of the vehicle distributors’ section. Married with a grownup family, Mr Williams is a single figure golfer and is a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and Royal Georges Golf Club, Sandwich.