The Man Behind The Forge Prees

The Forge Prees began life in 2019 as a personal retirement project for my Dad, Dr Geoffrey Davies OBE DL FIAgrE.

Dad had spent a lifetime building businesses, developing people and contributing to the industries and communities around him. After a long and distinguished career, he had reached the point where he could finally indulge another passion — British classic sports cars.

Sadly, Dad passed away later that same year, before he had the opportunity to see that dream fully realised.

The Forge has continued in his memory ever since.

A Life of Achievement

Dad was born in Grindley Brook, Shropshire, and spent part of his childhood in New Zealand before returning to the UK and joining the Royal Navy. He served for eight years as a Navigation Officer, during which time he also gained a BSc in Nautical Studies from the University of Liverpool.

Leaving the Navy in 1973, he began what would become a remarkable career in business.

His determination to learn and develop never left him. Alongside building his career, he continued his education, eventually gaining a BA in Business Studies, an MSc in Management Studies and, in 2008, a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Manchester.

For more than 35 years, Dad was Managing Director of Alamo Group Ltd (UK) and Vice President of Alamo Inc. Under his leadership, Alamo Group grew into a significant international business, designing and manufacturing machinery for agriculture, vegetation management, commercial mowing and road maintenance.

His achievements were recognised with numerous awards, including the Queen's Award for Enterprise Innovation.

In 2004, Dad was appointed an OBE for services to British agriculture and the community of Shropshire. In 2008, he was named UK Entrepreneur of the Year by the British Chamber of Commerce.

Yet the titles and awards only tell part of the story.

More Than Business

Dad believed strongly in the importance of education, opportunity and giving people the chance to better themselves.

Throughout his career, he supported employees in pursuing further education and vocational qualifications, and he remained involved in universities, industry organisations, business groups and community initiatives.

He served in a number of regional and national roles, including President of the Agricultural Engineers' Association, Chairman of the Shropshire County Council Business Board and Agricultural and Rural Affairs Director of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce.

He was also involved with organisations and causes that were important to him personally, including the rural community of Shropshire and his former school, Otago Boys' High School in New Zealand.

He had an ability to see the bigger picture, but he also understood that successful businesses were ultimately about people.

My Dad and My Colleague

I had the privilege of working alongside my Dad for 25 years within Alamo Group.

Working with a parent is not always straightforward, but for me it provided an extraordinary opportunity to learn from someone whose experience, energy and determination shaped so much of my own approach to business.

I saw first-hand the standards he set for himself and those around him. He believed in working hard, making decisions and, perhaps most importantly, doing things properly.

There was always something to learn from Dad — whether it was about business, people, making a decision when there was no obvious answer, or simply having the determination to see something through.

But away from the boardroom and the business world, Dad's greatest love was his family. That is the part of his life that mattered most.

And then, of course, there were the cars.

A Lifelong Love of Classic Cars

For all the responsibilities that came with his career, Dad always retained a fascination with cars — particularly the character, engineering and individuality of British classics.

After decades spent building businesses, his retirement project was intended to bring together that passion with something he had always enjoyed: finding, preserving and enjoying great British sports cars. MG and Triumph were natural choices.

They represented so much of what he appreciated — engineering, character, British heritage and cars that were built to be driven and enjoyed.

The Forge Prees was Dad's opportunity to turn that passion into something tangible.

Although he never had the chance to see the business develop, the dream did not disappear with him.

His Legacy

Today, The Forge Prees continues from its home in Shropshire, specialising in the MG and Triumph marques that Dad loved.

For us, The Forge is about more than buying and selling classic cars. It is a continuation of something Dad started.

Every car that passes through The Forge carries a small part of the story forward. The business gives us the opportunity to celebrate the cars he loved, but also the values that defined him — passion, integrity, authenticity, hard work and a belief in doing things properly.

Dad spent his life building businesses, supporting people and contributing to the community he called home. In the end, his final project was perhaps the most personal of them all.

The Forge was Dad's dream. It is my privilege to continue it.