The Queen's favourite Jaguar dealer is driven off the road: Royal supplier who has sold and repaired cars for the Queen Mother and Prince Charles is to close after 90 years 

  • R A Creamer & Son was the sole Jaguar dealer for the House of Windsor for 40 years
  • The dealership announced on Friday that it would be closing on Friday due to demands imposed by Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
  • Opened in 1927, it is Britain's oldest Jaguar dealership with a location that has been used 
  • The last owner Sidney Creamer was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order for services to the Royal Household

By Mary Kekatos For Mailonline

Published: 08:05 EST, 11 December 2016 | Updated: 11:39 EST, 11 December 2016

The Jaguar supplier to the Queen confirmed that it will hand back its two Royal warrants and close by the end of the year.

R A Creamer & Son wrote a message that 2016 will 'mark the end of a great story' as its 90-year history comes to a close. 

The dealership supplied and repaired cars for the Queen, the Queen Mother and Prince Charles for more than 40 years but is closing due to demands imposed by Jaguar. 

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Sidney Creamer (left, pictured with his wife Joan), the last owner of R A Creamer & Son had been supplying Jaguars for the Queen for over 40 years

The dealership announced on Friday that it was handing back it Royal Warrants and close at the end of the year

Dealer Principal Michael Quinn said: 'It's sad to hand back the Royal Warrants but we are proud to have had that association and it is something that will never be taken away from us'

Dealer Principal Michael Quinn, the grandson of Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons, made the announcement on Friday.

He wrote: 'In my last correspondence in January 2016 I stated that our business was unlikely to continue to operate "beyond the end of 2016 and could well be earlier than that."

'This is due in no small part to the changes in our business that we have been forced to face which have challenged us in a way that we now feel that we cannot sustain the current business model, or rationalize the level of investment required.

'I'm sorry to have to tell you that indeed this company will close its doors at the end of this year, 2016.

'It does mark the end of a great story and a proud history that can be traced back to 1927.'

R A Creamer, Britain's oldest Jaguar dealership,  is expected to finalise a sale amounting to tens of millions for its 10 properties near Kensington Palace in coming weeks 

The Queen Mother drives off in an 18 H.P. maroon Jaguar to attend a concert in 1957

Prince Charles sits it his then-new bomb proof Jaguar at the unveiling of the Elfin Oak in Kensington Gardens in 1997

Jaguar Land Rover Ltd. had demanded in 2014 that each dealer was to double the volume of business by the end of 2015.

In a planning statement, the company wrote that: 'This degree of expansion of the company’s activities are just not possible in Drayson Mews and indeed the company accounts bear this out. 

'Sadly the firm has concluded that its long history in Drayson Mews has reached its logical conclusion.' 

Britain's oldest Jaguar dealership is expected to finalise a sale amounting to tens of millions for its 10 properties near Kensington Palace in coming weeks.

Mr Quinn said the late Syd Creamer, a motor car designer and driver who was the business's last owner, had made sure the 14-member staff would be taken care of should the garage close.

He wrote: 'Syd Creamer and his widow Joan have left a wonderful legacy that will see that our loyal employees will benefit from the disposal of the premises. 

'I would like to conclude by passing on all our very best wishes on behalf of all the staff here, who would like to thank you for your loyal custom over the many years we have known you, and happily state that it has been a pleasure and a privilege to have been of service to you.'

Queen Elizabeth II in her Jaguar Estate car at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 2006

Syd Creamer (front, right) was awarded the Member of the Royal Victorian Order for services to the Royal Household in 2002

Syd Creamer (pictured with his staff at his garage in Kensington) had made plans to ensure they would be taken care of should the garage close

Mr Quinn attended a meeting with representatives from Buckingham Palace earlier in the year and has had a letter expressing the Royals' gratitude and best wishes.

He said: 'It's sad to hand back the Royal Warrants but we are proud to have had that association and it is something that will never be taken away from us. It was a long service that culminated in Syd Creamer being made a Member of the Royal Victoria Order for services to the Royal Household, which we are also incredibly proud of.'

R A Creamer was founded in 1927 by Roland Albert Creamer, specialising in Jaguars and Daimler, and would send car to Le Mans. His son, Sidney, joined the business in 1952.

The garage was the sole supplier of cars for the Queen, at one point adapting her Jaguar to make it environmentally-friendly. They also supplied cars for the Queen Mother and Prince Charles.

The Drayson Mews premise has been used as a location in several films, including one about George Best where the football legend was seen buying his E-Type.
 

 

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