Pictured: Alistair Park
A fromer helicopter instructor from RAF Shawbury has locked on
to a secure new career path despite recently being made
redundant.
The blow did not deter former RAF helicopter aircrew instructor
Alistair Park from retraining - this time in a totally new
direction as a locksmith and creating RMP Locksmiths, part of the
RMP Group of companies based in Telford.
The key to his new future clicked shortly after receiving his
marching orders as a civilian instructor training RAF crews at RAF
Shawbury on August 31 this year - just seven years after leaving
the RAF after a 23 year career.
It is now third time career lucky for determined Alistair (51),
of Aqueduct, Telford, who has trained military crews for operations
worldwide, including Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was also the
personal helicopter pilot for General Sir Mike Jackson, while he
was head of the British Army during visits to Kosovo.
"I refused to let redundancy get me down despite it being the
second time in seven years. I am handy at DIY and thought of a
career in plumbing or in electrical and then thought of becoming a
locksmith and used my redundancy money to retrain.
He has just completed a comprehensive training course in
Birmingham to learn how to fit and make keys, lock picking to gain
entry to buildings using non-destructive techniques and to
understand the locksmiths' trade.
Alistair knew he was suitable for the job after coming runner up
in a lock picking competition at an industry event where he
competed against experienced locksmiths' despite having no
training.
A squadron commander of Dawley Air Cadets in Telford, Alistair
has linked up with Shropshire businessman Trevor Bate who runs the
fast growing RMP Group of companies including security services,
event and entertainment organisation, and vehicle and electrical
repairs based at Stafford Park, Telford.
"RMP's owner Trevor Bate sponsors our air cadets' minibus. We
would be really struggling without his help. When I told Trevor
about my plans to retrain as a locksmith he asked me to join the
RMP Group as it is all part of the security industry.
"I intend to make the business a success for RMP," said Alistair
who offers a complete mobile locksmith service including a 24 hour
call out for people inadvertently locked out of their homes or
offices.
"In the future we intend to expand into the vehicle locksmith
market which means we will be able to open car locks and provide
new reprogrammed keys."
Alistair is an accredited member of the national network of
approved locksmiths' and can be contacted on 01952 210187 or email
locksmiths@rmpgroup.net