David Mylchreest has handed over the day-to-day running of Mylchreest Motors to his son James after nearly 40 years at the helm of the business.

Director James takes on the role of managing director while his father remains as chairman of the board and a member of the management team.

David’s other son Charles and Charles Fargher remain on the board.

But it’s very much ’business as usual’ as David Mylchreest, 69, and son James, 43, told Business News: ’We don’t see this as the end of an era or anything like that, it will be a continuation.’

And David Mylchreest still plans to be at his desk in Millmount on the New Castletown Road, Douglas, on at least three days a week.

Since taking over from his father Brian in 1982, David Mylchreest said he has overseen huge changes in the industry, and growth in the business and brands it represents.

He said a rationalisation of the business through the 1990s culminated in a move to the purpose-built garage at Millmount. And there has been ’significant’ investment which continues to this day .

And alongside running the business and moving with the times, David has continued his father’s love and support of local businesses and events.

Mylchreests has provided unbroken support for the TT, the Manx Grand Prix and the Southern 100 since the 1960s providing course cars and drivers over this entire period.

Son James is equally supportive of local events and like his father is part of the TT course car and officials teams and is actively involved in many other areas of Manx life.

Mylchreests itself was founded in 1961 by David’s father Brian. The business moved to Millmount in 2001 having previously been in Westmoreland Road, Douglas.

David’s grandfather had previously set up a motor business in the 1920s.

The Mylchreests say it is the longest continually family car ownership in the island.

Today the company represents the brands of Jaguar and Land Rover along with Subaru, Mitsubishi and Vauxhall.

James Mylchreest told Business News he is not afraid to ’lead from the front and get under car bonnets if necessary’.

His valuable experience serving as a mechanic in the army means he is not afraid of working ’at the coal face’.

David Mylchreest said his late father Brian would have been ’thrilled’ to know that his grandson James was taking over at the helm providing a third generation of the family usiness. He said: ’He would probably have been pushing me to do this a little while ago.’

James said he was looking forward to the challenges ahead. ’As we say it is a continuation rather than the end of an era.’

And he is preparing for the challenges ahead and this includes ’moving along’ with the growth in electric cars.

Meanwhile David Mylchrest said he is looking forward to spending more time on the golf course and indulging in his interest in classic cars. He thanked staff and customers for their loyalty.