THE recent closure of the Kwik-Fit tyre, exhaust, and brake centre, in Winchester Road, has sent many local folks’ memories back to the days when it was known as The White Garage.

In the 1950s, the garage was run by Sydney Mills and his staff, who carried out full-scale work on repairing motor cars and selling them.

The latest models were on display in the showrooms for all to see. The garage extended through a labyrinth of rooms to Winton Square, where the archway and passage can still be seen.

The White Garage was once used by Walter Webber when he first started up in business in 1900 to sell bicycles, motorbikes, and then motor cars.

Ten years later he moved to 15 London Street where he developed his business until he extended the rear of the premises to hold 90 vehicles in the early 1950s.

After Mr Webber moved out of the Winchester Road building, Charles Scard took over the site.

Then Herbert Gifford moved in during 1928, when he advertised himself as a motor engineer.

Mr Gifford spent four years there, then acquired the corner shop at Winchester Street/New Street (now Kall-Kwik printers), where he opened up an ironmonger’s business. In later years, he sold other goods such as electrical items.

Meanwhile, the Winchester Road building received its title, The White Garage, in 1938, under the care of the proprietor, Mr B T Beaton. It remained a garage until Kwik-Fit took it over some 50 years later.

Of all the memories that people have of the old garage, there is one that will never be forgotten – the petrol pipes across the pavement!

Whenever a car had to be filled up from the petrol pumps in front of the garage entrance, the pipe had to be laid across the public path, which caused problems for women with prams and pushchairs (which were heavier and larger in those days).

Elderly folk also moaned about the obstruction if they were handicapped with arthritis.

Things got even worse when petrol tankers arrived to fill up the underground petrol tanks, which meant that another thicker pipe trailed across the path.

It was only in the latter days of The White Garage that the petrol pumps were removed.

Kwik-Fit still have their business in Southern Road and Kingsclere Road.

The state of the old White Garage, with rainwater running through holes in the roof during heavy downpours, finally led to the decision to move from there.

The building has seen more than 100 years devoted to the care of motor cars – there cannot be many places that can boast that.