Peter Vardy (businessman)

Sir Peter Vardy is a successful British businessman from Durham specialising in the automotive retail business. He appeared in the "Sunday Times" Rich List 2004. He attended the Chorister School in Durham (1956–1961) [ [http://www.thechoristerschool.com/alumni/rollcall.php Chorister School website] ] and Durham School [ [http://www.xreferplus.com/entry.jsp?xrefid=6118160 VARDY, Sir Peter] in "Who's Who 2007" online at xreferplus.com (accessed 20 October 2007)] .

Business interests

Vardy took control of the car dealership Reg Vardy plc in 1976, after the death of the founder Reg Vardy, his father. In the late 1970s he was successful in acquiring franchises to sell various brands in the UK. From 1982 he expanded into the volume car market, first with British manufacturers and subsequently with European and Japanese marques. In January 2006 the dealership was sold to the largest UK car dealership chain, Pendragon.

Vardy was awarded the inaugural Industry Personality of the Year Award in a round of Automotive Management Awards and received a knighthood for services to education in the Queen's Birthday Honours list of 2001.BBC Article announcing Vardy's Honour, 15 June, 2001. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1390876.stm] ]

Vardy stepped down as Chief Executive of Reg Vardy plc in February 2006 after Pendragon acquired the Group for £506m.

In May 2006, The Vardy Group of Companies was launched in Durham, comprising: Vardy Venture Capital, established by Sir Peter Vardy; Vardy Property Group, launched by his elder son Richard; and Peter Vardy Ltd, launched by Peter Vardy (grandson of Reg Vardy) who had previously been General Manager of Rossleigh Jaguar Edinburgh. [ [http://www.petervardy.com/about-us?ID=null&section_F=4 petervardy.com] ]

Controversy

Although a devout Christian, he caused controversy by instructing his Reg Vardy car dealerships to open on Sundays.

It has been reportedThe Guardian discusses Vardy's plans to teach creationism in UK schools, 15th January, 2005. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,,1389500,00.html] ] that Vardy rejects the theory of evolution in favour of creationism. He has caused controversy in the UK by using his wealth to fund the building of a City Technology College and two City Academies, with a Christian slant to their teaching. These three schools form the Emmanuel Schools Foundation [Emmanuel Schools Foundation website [http://www.emmanuelctc.org.uk/] ] , a coalition of schools based in the north of England.

Critics have voiced concern over the promotion in these schools of doctrines such as creationism and the condemnation of homosexuality. However, in an interview with the BBC Today Programme,Interview (RealAudio stream), BBC Today Programme, 15th April 2006. [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today2_academy_schools_20060415.ram] ] broadcast 15th April 2006, Sir Peter denied holding fundamental creationist beliefs stating, "I believe that God created the earth and created man in his own image, quite how long it took him I don't know". He claimed to exert no influence over the curriculum of the schools he sponsors beyond insisting on a "Christian ethos" and that he would be concerned if creationism was taught as fact in his schools. Vardy complained that a comment made 5 years ago in which he intended to convey only a belief in a "creator God" rather than a literal belief in the Bible creation stories, had been mis-interpreted and blown out of proportion by the media.

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