History Of Breakdown Recovery & Commercial Vehicle Repair in Barking, Essex & London

Boleyn Service Station has one of, if not, the longest uninterrupted trading histories of any London based Breakdown Recovery and Fleet Maintenance Companies.

William George Albert Smith, the founder and owner of Boleyn, discovered his aptitude for vehicle maintenance and recovery during his National Service years with the R.E.M.E (Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers) where he gained a solid background of knowledge for the ever evolving motor industry.

Bill built the business from his back garden 50 years ago in 1959 when his first job paid him 7s & 6d.  We now employ over 50 staff.

Bill acquired the Boleyn Service Station in Barking in 1964. The business was originally based in Movers Lane as a mechanical workshop, with 1 employee. The garage was already on the Metropolitan Police Traffic register for Road Traffic Accident call outs. The Boleyn continued to offer this service, originally with only one breakdown recovery vehicle and 2 workshop technicians.

Continued growth led the company to acquire larger premises. Initially at 89 River Road, then in 1993 to where we are today at 77 River Road which is a prime 2 1/2 acre site nestled in East London's hub for major supply chain operators, local fleet owners and owner drivers. The industrial site in River Road incorporates

• 12,000 sq ft of Fleet workshops
• VOSA approved HGV and Class 4, 5, & 7 Mot Centre
• Commercial Accident Repair Centre
• 2 Acres open storage
• 6,000 sq ft covered storage

Boleyn's workshop began to carry out repairs on vehicles belonging to the London Fire Brigade in the late 1970's, and a long standing working relationship has followed since. In the 1980's we were one of the main sub contractors for recovering, servicing and maintaining London's fire appliances.

Boleyn continued to work alongside municipal bodies including the police, the fire brigade and local councils aswell as local and national companies. From this type of work we gained invaluable experience in working with a wide range of municipal and commercial vehicles and coping with logistical and mechanical problems.

Boleyns customers have access to a wide range of services all under one roof and invoicing system. We are able to offer discounted breakdown recovery into our own workshops and once there vehicles do not have to be moved around to other depots.

We can now recover a car or commercial vehicle, do a pre MOT inspection and test it all at the same location benefitting our customers with reduced:

• down time
• wear and tear
• fuel costs
• administratrion

Clients requiring nationwide assistance may do so 24-7-365 by calling direct to our control room based in Barking. Our carefully selected network of professional recovery agents that we have built up over 50 years of trading ensures our service is reliable and professional. Our own recovery fleet serves London and The Home Counties.

This coverage and service has saved our customers thousands by using "owners choice" since the inception of the new statutory removal charges that can cost operators up to £6000 just to move a vehicle to the next junction if they don't have their own professional recovery operater and procedure in place. Join now>>>

Our most recent contracts cover Breakdown Recovery within the Olympic Construction Site and Working alongside the Highway Agency Recovering vehicles on the M25 and M11>>> read our NEWS