John Aldington

Scion of the Aldington family which owned AFN, the UK Porsche importer, John Aldington took over from his father and uncles in 1965. He professionalised what had been an agreeably amateur and sometimes-disorganised business, which until the early 1960s seemed to be run essentially so that its directors could enjoy themselves. Dartmouth Naval College and 18 months’ apprenticeship at Zuffenhausen imbued John with the focus and discipline increasingly necessary as the Porsche business grew. Thanks to the confidence that Ferry had in him he was able to see off a concerted attempt by VW’S UK company to take over Porsche distribution, and in 1972 he still managed to retain control by negotiating a deal whereby Porsche took a 60 per cent interest, forming Porsche Cars Great Britain – Aldington insisted it was never abbreviated to PCGB. The UK remained Porsche’s third market after the US and Germany, and Aldington ran a tight ship, moving the company to premises in Reading in 1978 when space in Isleworth ran out. He sold out suddenly in 1987, as if he anticipated the slump in 1988 which would see Porsche stockpiled at Calais.