St Andrews Services

09/07/2024

https://www.justgiving.com/page/janet-cracknell-skydive

As You will all Know MND has hit our family hard, Roses Grandma has decided at 86 she is going to do a charity skydive and all the proceeds go to MND.

if anyone would like to donate please follow the link.

Kind Regards
St Andrews Services

Help Janet Cracknell raise money to support Motor Neurone Disease Association

08/02/2024

Tuesday Was a hard Day and I’m sorry If I didn’t get chance to talk to you all, It was truly overwhelming the number of customers, Work colleagues and friends that came to pay there final respects, from what I was told even the sanding room was overflowing.

I would Like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has supported St andrews on Peters behalf over the last 34 years. Peter Ofter reminded us how grateful we should be to be entrusted with someone’s vehicle, This Is something that We Will carry on in the years to come within the workshop and possibly through our next generation of Porter technicians.

20/01/2024

It is with a broken heart that we make this post today. Our dad has been battling MND (motor neurone disease) for around 2-3 years now but he only got his official diagnosis back in April last year. Pops made his final stand with Mnd on the 4th January 2024 where he said goodbye peacefully at home in his own bed.
We will be saying our ‘cheerios’ or ‘see you laters’ to pops on Tuesday 6th February at 11 o clock, held at countesthorpe crematorium. All that knew him are welcome to attend and to a venue (TBC) afterwards to raise a glass 🥃 to him.
Anyone that does attend, then please don’t bring flowers, but consider a small donation in the collection box which will be going towards the MNDA and loros, both were amazing in helping mum and dad with this cruel disease.

Anyone intending to come along if you could just give us the heads up so we can plan accordingly.

I’ll see you later Dad,
Peter George Porter 1948-2024.

06/01/2024

To all the customers and followers of St Andrews services, I need to share something with you all, that I have been dreading for some time.

For Those who have been with us, over the years, you will all be very familiar with my dad, Peter Porter, working in the workshop with us. I have worked with my dad since I left school at 16 years old. My dad has also been in the motor trade since he left school as a teenager.
You may have noticed his absence this last 10months and prior to that, over the last couple of years my dad’s mobility was slowing. This didn’t stop him and he kept on working, doing MOT tests daily. He even attended his mot testers refresher course in February last year driving through snow and ice to make the centre for his re qualification. Whilst he was doing all this he was having to make various hospital appointments and undergo various scans and tests over a series of months. This eventually led him to being diagnosed, in early 2023, with motor neurone disease. He was struggling with mobility as his muscles were slowly being taken from him, and as such he eventually decided (although some encouragement was needed) to hang up his spanner’s and spend time at home with my mum. Those that know him will be pleased to hear that he didn’t, however, hang up his sandals or crocs and still rocked them into the winter months.
We, as a family, have spent the latter part of 2023 trying to make memories with him whilst my dad began his fight. This is why he has been absent from the workshop.

It is with a broken heart that I write this today and to inform you all that my dad, pops, Pete, Peter, however you all knew him or referred to him, finally lost his battle with MND on Thursday 4th January 2024. We take some comfort in the fact that he was at home with mum and passed away peacefully sleeping,during the morning, in his own bed.

We will continue to work our hardest for you all but please, if you are visiting us in the next few weeks and maybe even months I may find it difficult at times as he was a big part of our journey here. I have worked with him side by side for over 33 years and I missed him in the workshop. Not just because he is my dad but he was a mate, a colleague, someone we could take some mutual p**s taking out of and even arguments, knowing we would always make up. (It’s now my job to send the apprentice to get a bag of spots for the spot welder)

Thank you all for your understanding at this time.

Funeral arrangements will be sorted in due course, which may mean some appointments may have to be moved. I apologise and hope you can understand during these difficult times.

RIP dad,
Peter George Porter, 1948-2024.

05/02/2023

So this week something a little different a deep clean and seal treatment on this Golf Convertible. Took some time to draw out the mould but as you can see the finish was worth it.

02/04/2022

Saturday morning 8.45am

After entering Poland last night, there were many miles of pretty mundane driving along the toll roads with not a lot to see except, increasingly, the inside of my eyelids. So, I stopped at some services near Łódź and hunkered down for the night.

Thank heavens I brought my four seasons sleeping bag as it was blummin cold and I woke to find it had snowed heavily in the night.

Another couple of hours driving had brought me close to my destination and although the roads have been sketchy at times, at least I’ve been off the toll roads and driving through forests, towns and villages.. far more interesting 👍

I’m currently sat on the outskirts of Starachowice in Poland, and in about 5 mins I’ll head into the town to meet the guys taking all you generously donated items into Ukraine.

Then, unless the plans have changed since last night, I’ll be off to a point near the border for a second drop off, this time of medical supplies.

Then, I shall be instructing Google to take me to the nearest Macdonalds for a sausage and egg McMuffin (double) hash browns and coffee.. sooo much coffee before starting the journey home.

Sadly, despite all our best efforts, we have been unable to get paired with a visa holding family needing help getting to the UK..
Shame on you Boris!!

But, there is a huge load of stuff soon to be in its way to Ukraine..
Plus, the same amount again back home which will be leaving for Ukraine next week.
Plus we’ll be donating a large amount to a relevant charity on my return but more on that later.

So, thank you all once again 🙏

31/03/2022

Hi everyone

I apologise for not having updated you these last couple of days but as you can imagine, it’s been somewhat hectic and more than a little fraught at times. I didn’t appreciate quite how much would be involved logistically so without the small army of helpers, I’d have lost the plot frankly. Thank you all but an extra big thank you to our lovely friend Sophie who has kept me sane and helped bring order to proceedings, all whilst looking after her 8 month old 😘

One of the attached photos is of me and my pal Mel along with Peter Merry who runs an academy of 6 schools in South Leics.. his staff and kids have donated literally a mountain of items. Mel’s networking has been unbelievably productive in a number of ways
Thanks mate 🙏

The goodwill and generosity have been off the chart and it’s been a whirlwind of deliveries, collections, sorting, packing, labelling and loading… Repeat!!

But, we’re finally ready to go.
Just about!!

Shrek is rammed, my garage and spare room are rammed, Donkey the VW is rammed, and I’ve just had to leave about 40, yes 40 large boxes at the the Hinckley Park Primary School.

I was thinking I may have to do a second run out there but thankfully a chap called David Andrews who owns a garden centre and rose importers in Northants/Beds reached out to me last week having heard of our appeal.. he is working with the Luton Ukrainian Centre and they are making a run to Ukraine in his lorries.. on my return next week I’ll be gathering everything that won’t fit in Shrek, and believe me I could fill him again, and taking it to David’s warehouse in Biggleswade. From there it will be palletised and taken straight into Ukraine.. Fantastic!!

I haven’t totted up the cash donations yet but I think that will be in the order of £4000+
Unbelievable 🤯

I’ll give you a more precise figure on my return but whatever is left, and it will be thousands, will go to a charity I’ve earmarked that are sending relief boxes deep into the worst areas of the war zone.

Shrek is busting at the seams but he’s up for the challenge (I hope!!) and I’ll be setting off between 4 & 5pm today and heading for the tunnel. Then it’s the long drive to Poland and wherever else the trip takes me.

I’ve been accepted as a volunteer driver by a charity (freedom-id.com) that matches drivers to refugees needing transport within Europe and I’m awaiting a match. It’s the last roll of the dice on that front so fingers crossed 🤞

The attached time lapse video and pics are just a taste of the last few days and of a fully packed Shrek.

I will try to send pics and updates as and when I can but there will times when I won’t be able to for sure. I promise I’ll fill in the blanks when I’m on the way back or home.

The goodwill messages have been warmly received but I won’t be able to respond individually from now. Please don’t think me rude.

Thanks again everyone ✌️

31/03/2022

Hi everyone

I apologise for not having updated you these last couple of days but as you can imagine, it’s been somewhat hectic and more than a little fraught at times. I didn’t appreciate quite how much would be involved logistically so without the small army of helpers, I’d have lost the plot frankly. Thank you all but an extra big thank you to our lovely friend Sophie who has kept me sane and helped bring order to proceedings, all whilst looking after her 8 month old 😘

One of the attached photos is of me and my pal Mel along with Peter Merry who runs an academy of 6 schools in South Leics.. his staff and kids have donated literally a mountain of items. Mel’s networking has been unbelievably productive in a number of ways
Thanks mate 🙏

The goodwill and generosity have been off the chart and it’s been a whirlwind of deliveries, collections, sorting, packing, labelling and loading… Repeat!!

But, we’re finally ready to go.
Just about!!

Shrek is rammed, my garage and spare room are rammed, Donkey the VW is rammed, and I’ve just had to leave about 40, yes 40 large boxes at the the Hinckley Park Primary School.

I was thinking I may have to do a second run out there but thankfully a chap called David Andrews who owns a garden centre and rose importers in Northants/Beds reached out to me last week having heard of our appeal.. he is working with the Luton Ukrainian Centre and they are making a run to Ukraine in his lorries.. on my return next week I’ll be gathering everything that won’t fit in Shrek, and believe me I could fill him again, and taking it to David’s warehouse in Biggleswade. From there it will be palletised and taken straight into Ukraine.. Fantastic!!

I haven’t totted up the cash donations yet but I think that will be in the order of £4000+
Unbelievable 🤯

I’ll give you a more precise figure on my return but whatever is left, and it will be thousands, will go to a charity I’ve earmarked that are sending relief boxes deep into the worst areas of the war zone.

Shrek is busting at the seams but he’s up for the challenge (I hope!!) and I’ll be setting off between 4 & 5pm today and heading for the tunnel. Then it’s the long drive to Poland and wherever else the trip takes me.

I’ve been accepted as a volunteer driver by a charity (freedom-id.com) that matches drivers to refugees needing transport within Europe and I’m awaiting a match. It’s the last roll of the dice on that front so fingers crossed 🤞

The attached time lapse video and pics are just a taste of the last few days and of a fully packed Shrek.

I will try to send pics and updates as and when I can but there will times when I won’t be able to for sure. I promise I’ll fill in the blanks when I’m on the way back or home.

The goodwill messages have been warmly received but I won’t be able to respond individually from now. Please don’t think me rude.

Thanks again everyone ✌️

Use our ID verification service to help reduce the risk of human trafficking by groups and individuals posing as accommodation providers for people fleeing Ukraine.

29/03/2022

Big Big thank you again to everyone, Will has pick up what we had dropped here this morning and we have given the van a once over.
I’m truly humbled by what my customers friends and family have all donated. 

26/03/2022

Absolutely blown away by the donations so far, from customers and friends.
It’s humbling that there is good in the world.

Will Roberts is bringing the Van in on Tuesday for us to give it a once over before his long journey, I will take some more photos of all the donations loaded up.

If anyone would still like to make a donation please drop them off before Tuesday.