The Garage pays homage to Alice Anderson, a motor mechanic who set up an all female motor service in Kew in 1919. Alice was described as ‘unconventional’ – women were not expected to be independent and a garage was considered men’s business. Undeterred, Alice provided training and opportunities for women to work as pupil mechanics; she also offered women driving classes, mechanical instruction and the opportunity to work alongside mechanics on their own automobiles.

Alice empowered women by respecting their capabilities and by providing them with information and opportunities. Almost 100 years later these principles underpin the work of Alice’s Garage.