A Middleton Hall couple celebrating 60 years of marriage and more than four decades as members of the Teesside Yesteryear Motor Club received a special surprise when club members brought their classic cars and motorbikes to the retirement village for this year’s Classic Car Show.
Geoff and Sheila Mansfield, who live in one of the Middleton Grove apartments with care support, were presented with a bouquet by club members during the event earlier this summer.
The presentation came in a landmark year for both the couple and the club. Teesside Yesteryear Motor Club is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026, while Geoff and Sheila, who married in 1966, are marking their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. They have also received a congratulatory message from Their Majesties The King and Queen.
“We were absolutely delighted to receive the flowers,” said Sheila. “We have a lot of happy memories of going along to the meetings and taking part in the events.”
The couple’s connection with classic cars goes much further than club membership. Their shared passion led to a successful specialist restoration business, racing at Silverstone and Brands Hatch, importing Ferraris from Italy and transporting valuable classic vehicles throughout the UK and Europe.
Geoff began restoring Triumph sports cars as a hobby and was soon being asked by other enthusiasts to work on their vehicles. This led to the couple establishing Northern TR Centre in Sedgefield, which became known for restoring and repairing classic Triumph TR sports cars.
Sheila ran the business while Geoff concentrated on restoration work. They imported cars from California, restored them and converted them to right-hand drive for customers in the UK and Europe, as well as undertaking bespoke projects.
“It just grew from something I was doing as a hobby,” said Geoff. “People started asking me to restore cars for them and eventually it became the business.”
After selling Northern TR Centre, the couple initially intended to retire. Instead, their connections with the Triumph TR Register and Jaguar Drivers’ Club led to a second business, G&S Classic Services, transporting classic and specialist vehicles in enclosed trucks.
The couple ran the business for many years, travelling throughout the UK and Europe before selling it in 2015.
Jaguar Heritage became a particularly important customer, with Geoff and Sheila regularly transporting vehicles for its museum collection. They also transported cars for high-profile customers including David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard, with the combined value of vehicles on their trucks sometimes reaching £4-5 million.
One memorable assignment involved transporting Jaguar cars to Italy for the 1000 Miglia, the historic road race. The couple travelled throughout Europe every other week, clocking up thousands of miles in their enclosed transporter.
Sheila was very much part of the business, including behind the wheel.
“I loved driving the trucks,” she said. “I had to take a special test and I scored 100 per cent on the theory element. Geoff learned a lot testing me before I took it!”
Tony Gray, a former Chair and past President of Teesside Yesteryear Motor Club who remains on its committee, first met Geoff and Sheila 46 years ago through the club.
His red Jaguar E-type featured in one of the first advertisements for the couple’s car transporter business.
“They don’t like sitting about,” said Tony of Geoff and Sheila.
Teesside Yesteryear Motor Club was formed in 1966 by a group of enthusiasts interested in vintage and veteran vehicles and now has around 300 members. It organises events throughout the year, including road trials, classic motorcycle runs, weekend outings and static displays, often supporting charitable organisations.
For Geoff and Sheila, their long association with the club has been about much more than the vehicles.
“We’ve got a lot of happy memories of going to the meetings and taking part in the events,” said Sheila. “We’ve met so many people through the club over the years.”
Although the couple sold their bungalow and their collection of classic cars when they moved to Middleton Hall, Geoff’s interest in motoring remains. At one point he owned 11 vintage and classic vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, two Bentleys and a Swallow Doretti. He still has an impressive collection of model cars.
Geoff and Sheila may no longer race, restore or transport classic cars, but they remain members of the Teesside Yesteryear Motor Club and continue to enjoy their shared passion for classic vehicles.
“We’ve had a very varied and interesting life,” said Sheila.
Geoff and Sheila’s story appeared in The Northern Echo’s Memories on Saturday 10 October. To read the feature click the image below.
