A professional service from start to finish

Matt Cooper

Managing Director

Matt started his career in the automotive industry longer ago than he admits!

He is the second generation looking after Cooper Barnes and has been at the helm for over 14 years.

Cutting his teeth with Ford and Mercedes, Matt has an incredible knowledge and even gets on the tools from time to time.

When not running Cooper Barnes, you will normally find Matt at the helm of a BBQ and watching his beloved Saracens.

Lee Govier

Estimator / Workshop Controller

Lee spent 12 years as a panel beater, which has given him a very in-depth knowledge, with which he supports the workshop team. He then spent 4 years training to be an estimator, but occasionally returns to the tools to keep skills fresh.

When not immersed in the automotive world, Lee has 2 daughters to keep him occupied, and is learning the ukulele (slowly)

Neil Hamilton-Meikle 

Sales & Marketing

Neil is a relative newcomer to the industry with just 5 years under his belt but a career in business development spanning more years than he cares to remember. He heads up the sales & marketing department for Cooper Barnes.

When not promoting our excellent services, he is a walking wallet for his 3 girls, and is an avid mountain biker and drummer.

Angela Garton

Bookkeeper

With over 20 years experience in commercial banking and a Sage whizz, Angela looks after our accounts. When not bookkeeping she is kept busy with her 3 children and loves swimming and reading (although not at the same time!)

Ian Redden

Panel & mechanical

Ian has been in the industry for over 23 years with 6 at Cooper Barnes. He specialises in heavy panel repairs and crash damage.

In his spare time he is an excellent Banger Racer and was World Champion in 2011 , 2104 World of Shale Champion and 2013 Masters Champion.

Never far from a spanner, the weekend sees Ian splitting time between family and his beloved bangers

Deano Prior

Panel Beater

Our former apprentice but now fully qualified, we are very proud of Deano and all the hard work he has put in over the years to pass all is exams. Although he drinks too much tea! Weekends see him restoring and riding classic motorbikes and attending race meetings.

Danielle Hill

Front of House / Reception

Often Danielle will be your first point of contact. With years in customer focussed roles, she is passionate about our customers and ensures everyone is looked after. When not getting 5 star reviews from customers, she lives locally with her partner, Peaches the pooch and Leo the bunny. She is also a talented acrylic & watercolour artist.

Gennaro Ruocco

Panel Beater

Hailing from Italy but oddly has no affection for coffee! Gennaro has wide panel experience from boats to vehicles, he joins our panel team as a bodywork specialist. Out of work, he is a self-confessed gym bunny and his favourite car is, surprise surprise, a Ferrari 812 superfast. And don’t get him started on Italian cuisine, he goes all misty eyed.

Kamil Kendra

Mechanic

Kamil has been part of Cooper Barnes for over 10 years and is not only a skilled panel beater but responsible for all mechanical repairs. Taking huge pride in his work, Kamil is not only an invaluable member of the team but a fountain of mechanical knowledge.

Such is his love of all things automotive, weekends usually find him buried in some part of a project car.

Alice Donker

Apprentice

Alice is our newest apprentice, and has joined our panel beating team. Never one to sit still, she loves rock climbing and bouldering, and used to be in a trampoline team. We do try to keep her feet on the ground though!

Hebe White

Valeter / Driver

Hebe splits her time between delivering & collecting customer cars and valeting. She is our Queen of clean with an eye for detail ensuring all our cars leave sparkling. Her hidden talent is circus skills and once jumped out of a plane, although she maintains she was pushed.

Neil Holdsworth

Valeter / Driver

Neil spends his days in traffic, delivering and collecting our customers vehicles. He takes pride in ensuring that all our vehicles go out freshly valeted and gleaming.

At the weekend, Neil is a DJ and producer of high energy dance music.

James Player

Parts

James has spent over 10 years in the auto industry, mostly in car sales. His best ever sale was a very rare £165k Nizmo GTR! Now heading up our parts department, booking in and returning parts, chasing suppliers and ensuring there is a steady flow of components to the workshop. Weekends are taken up with family and when he gets a spare moment, he supports the ups and downs of Tottenham and Ipswich 

Lee Kidman

Sprayer

A highly qualified Thatcham sprayer, with over 21 years’ experience, Lee has painted everything from rally cars to Rolls Royce’s. His favourite job was a complete body re-spray of an E-type. When not using a spray gun, it’s an airsoft gun in the woods and the occasional bit of mountain biking.