5 minutes with...... Geoff Gatward

Geoff has been Company Secretary of the IVR since its inception in the early 1980’s and earlier this year was presented with the IVR Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also Region 11 Secretary of AVRO.

1.  What was your first job?

As soon as I had left school, aged 16, working for my father’s company collecting and delivering motor spares on a ‘trade’ bike with a basket over the front wheel, sometimes with such heavy parts from the Vulcan factory in Maidstone that would cause the bike to tip over forwards if I was to get off the saddle!

2.  When did you become involved in the recovery industry?

When I got my driving licence a couple of days after my 17^th birthday and was allowed to drive an 3 ton Ex Army Ford 4x4 with a Harvey Frost hand operated recovery crane.

3.  Which part of your job within the industry did you enjoy the most?

Heavy recovery winching jobs with our old Diamond ‘T’ 981 with a Garwood twin boom crane.

4.  What part of the job did you find most difficult?

Trying to make any sensible money out of doing ‘club’ work.

5.  What was the best bit of advice you were ever given and can you remember who gave it to you?

By my father, never give credit to persons unknown to you and never assume anything until you have properly checked out the situation.

6.  If you could have worked in a totally different field what would it have been?

I would have probably run a transport café or a restaurant.

7.  What do you listen to while driving?

Usually rather restful music,  and songs from a popular German performer, nothing very loud.

8.  Where is your favourite holiday destination?

St Ives in Cornwall.

9.Do you have any hobbies?

I like dabbling with photography and also have my own woodworking workshop where I have lots of machinery and hand tools to play with.

10.  What is your favourite meal?

Roast pork with all the trimmings, followed by apple pie and custard

11.  What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?

Get rid of the recovery business, sell my property and go and live somewhere by the sea down in Cornwall.

12.  Do you have any unfilled ambitions?

To have retired when I reached the age of 45 and not still be working, albeit voluntary and part time, in the family recovery business at 75!