Denis Harper
Page 49
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• Apart from VBRA members relatively few people know very much about the Vehicle Builders and Repairers' Association. But before his year of office ends the president, Mr Denis Harper of Kirkcaldy intends to do a great deal to alter this situation.
Having served his apprenticeship as a coachbuilder with W. Alexander and Son, he branched out on his own in 1947 when he was 32 years of age. In those days he was engaged in converting ex-WD vehicles into commercials.
Today, Denis Harper has three large coachbuilding concerns in Scotland and by way of comparison he points out that whereas his first premises cost £50 a year rental, he is now paying £2500 for one three-acre site in Kirkcaldy.
Denis Harper was born to succeed simply because he finds that nothing is too much trouble; he is prepared to travel 200 miles to inspect a job in the knowledge that he may not be awarded the contract. He devotes his entire life to the bodybuilding industry. Often men without outside activities are bores. but this is not so with Denis Harper. He can talk knowledgeably on a wide range of subjects but freely admits that his hobbies are the ancillary activities of his business such as advertising design and public relations work.
He claims to have been the first builder in Europe to install gas-fired ovens in his workshop, and each of his establishments is fitted with the most modern jigs and repair equipment. He takes the long view that those best equipped and with the best trained staff will survive what is a depressing time for his industry.
According to Denis Harper, American bodybuilders whom he has studied have a great deal to learn from their British counterparts. He looks with envious eyes toward Germany where there is one repairer for every 2500 vehicles. "In this country the ratio is one repairer to 1000 vehicles," he says.
Such a situation has depressed rates and Denis Harper believes that only real enthusiasts should be encouraged into the bodybuilding industry. "Their enthusiasm might carry them through until better days dawn," he said. He has his own ways of finding enthusiasts and one method he used recently was to invite potential apprentices to attend his office for interview at 6 am. He confesses that even he was mildly surprised when he found a queue of young men awaiting his arrival at 5.45 am.
The year 1971 may well prove to be the one when the bodybuilding industry emerges from the doldrums. With Denis Harper leading its trade association, it has a very good chance.