I'm originally from Liverpool, and know (knew) Doug very very well. He visited my home many times. He even briefly lent me his car once (a blue Rover P6 3500S, which a friend of mine maintained for him, and he even replaced the standard 4 speed trans with a 5 speed unit from a Rover SD1) - a true gent. I originally dealt with him (and his Mother!) when he had just one shop in Liverpool. My first ever purchse was a Garrard 401 chassis, for £36! I chose it over a LINN LP12, which, amazingly, was then available in just chassis form, for £54! But when he moved his 'up market' gear to Warrington, I had to travel about 12 miles. I knew all the boys there, and borrowed many high-end items, sometimes for Months on end, and I bought all my gear from him, the last lot of purcheses were a pair of Maggies - MG1b, driven by an ARC SP8 and D115 - a match 'made in heaven'.
RIP Doug.