2018 marks 17 years in business for RT Machinery and their annual September Show near Aylesbury was an extra special event to celebrate the granting of a Royal Warrant for the “Supply and Service of Ground Care Equipment by Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen” on 1st April this year.
Their biggest event yet, 200 guests enjoyed the amazing views while looking at lawncare and groundcare machines from over 30 different suppliers.
Guests had the opportunity to take part in ride and drive trials, see live demonstrations and get advice from both manufacturers and the RTM team. They also tucked into a traditional pig roast, and enjoyed some amazing home-made cakes!
The Royal Warrant which was being celebrated is a mark of recognition to companies or individuals who have supplied goods or services to the Royal Household for at least five years. that is The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh or The Prince of Wales.
RT Machinery welcomed The Town Mayor of Aylesbury, Councillor Mark Willis, and the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher for an official unveiling of the Royal Arms.
Sir Henry was able to shed more light on the history of Royal Warrants. He said, “The granting of a Royal Charter, the mediaeval version of the current warrant, goes back to 1155 when Henry II granted the Weaver's Company a Royal Charter."
Since then monarchs have continued the tradition of recognising a huge range of trades over the centuries, with over 800 holding a Royal Warrant today.
Receiving the recognition of Royal Warrant allows companies to display the official Royal Arms on their communications and premises, and is an official acknowledgement of the company’s services to the Royal Family.
Richard Taylor, md RT Machinery with the Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher. Picture: The Bucks Herald Newspaper.
In the case of RT Machinery, Richard Taylor md, and his team have been supplying the Royal Household since the company started trading in 2001. That was when Richard worked from a summer house office at the bottom of his garden and Technical Director, Stephen Palmer headed up a fairly basic workshop.
Today the company is able to supply equipment across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Surrey and London and the South East from substantial premises in rural Buckinghamshire, complete with a smart workshop, offices and parts department. The business also employs 24 members of staff now.
Richard Taylor said, “As a family business, we feel very privileged to have received this prestigious award: Serving the Royal Household has always been considered a privilege and a pleasure.
"The award really came as a surprise and it has certainly been a team effort: the expertise and commitment of our staff have been an integral part of our achievement and I’d like to take this opportunity to say thanks for all their hard work.”
