By David French

Cinque Ports Mobility was first established, in shared showrooms with Weston & Ross at 360 Cheriton Road, Folkestone in January 1990. The company originally was a division of SCL Mobility of Granville Road Maidstone, of which I was a director, SCL Mobility worked very closely with Maidstone Health Authority and Social Services, doing joint home assessments, visits etc.

The Folkestone operation was created to provide a better local service to customers already established in the South East part of Kent. The name Cinque Ports Mobility was assumed to identify a specific part of Kent, the area originally covered was from Lydd in the west to Sandwich in the east, although now we offer our services throughout the whole of Kent. In 1992 the company was re-located at our present address to larger showrooms adjacent to a free car park with a test area, essential for our disabled visitors. One of our showrooms is dedicated for the use of the East Kent NHS Wheelchair Services Occupational Therapists to interview and assess clients in confidence.

In November 2001 the parent company, by then Ashdale Healthcare, went into receivership, fortunately my son Chris and I were able to take over CPM and it then became a wholly family owned private company.

Over the past 15 years the company has forged strong links with the NHS, Social Services, SSAFA Forces Help, Age Concern and all the Hospital therapy units in the area. From time to time we advise therapy students from Christ Church College Canterbury on mobility products as part of their training.

We are approved dealers for the majority of mobility manufacturers and our staff regularly attend training courses and seminars held by them. The company is a member of the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) and was a founder member of the BSTA, precursor of the BHTA.

Today Chris and I continue to offer a friendly, professional and caring service specialising in wheelchairs, electric scooters and power chairs. We have recently expanded our service to include the supply, maintenance and repair of stair lifts and the weight testing requirements of patient lifting equipment in nursing homes and private dwellings.

David and Chris French