Harleston Tyre Services celebrates landmark anniversary of family business

A fourth-generation family business is celebrating 40 years of keeping the community safe on the roads.

Harleston Tyres, in Fuller Road, was opened by Keith Keeble in October 1984 after he spotted a need for a tyre specialist in the area.

Four decades on, his sons, Joel and Daryl, now run the site, offering wheel alignment and servicing to brakes, exhausts and batteries.

Joel, 48, said: “When we were young, Daryl and I would come down to the garage on a Saturday and help out. But I never once thought about doing it as a career.

“When I was a bit older, I came to help during the summer while I was finishing a computer studies course at college ... and ended up staying.”

The pair took over the garage in 2011, when Keith retired.

Joel’s teenage son, Charlie, now works at the business on Saturdays, making him the fourth generation to do so, with his great-grandad helping at the business when it first took off.

“My son seems to enjoy it and has realised how much hard work and graft goes into this job,” said Joel.

“It is great to have him here and, obviously, we would love to see the business stay in the family one day.

“But he has not decided what he wants to do yet, so who knows.”

Having a business that has lasted four decades is not lost on the family and Joel felt it was their customer ethos, which started with his dad, that has helped them last the test of time.

“He put service above anything else and that approach, from day one, has not changed,” he said. “Our personal touch is really appreciated by our customers, who have come to count on our honest advice.

“We have third generation customers, who are grandchildren of original ones, come to us and that means so much.

“We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone that has supported us over the last 40 years. Without them, we would not be here and it is really appreciated.”