SECURITY
IN SAFE HANDS
Master locksmith and security expert Mark is much missed , but his legacy is secure ...
Memories – Mark Boynton with partner Jill .
Appleyard Security has been around since 1883 , when it was established as family business E Appleyard Locksmiths .
That means this year is its 140th anniversary , although it has only been in its familiar home on the corner of Hartington Road and Borough Road in Middlesbrough for a few decades .
The firm is well known as a dynamic , responsive locksmith and security company , and not just throughout the Teesside area .
Customers seek them out from all ends of the country because of the reputation they have built and which their dedicated staff proudly maintain .
If you hadn ’ t heard of Appleyard , then you may have heard the name Mark Boynton . Mark made an impression with everyone he met , with most people remembering him as the man who thought – and acted – at 100 miles per hour .
Tragically , Mark passed away suddenly on March 1 this year . However , his legacy continues and his partner , Jill , is now the firm ’ s director .
Mark had entrusted Jill with running the business in which she had supported him for the last decade , and she continues to do him proud , along with the support of all her staff , serving a range of industries from critical infrastructure and heavy industry to small businesses , as well as residential customers .
“ Mark would be so proud of the progress the business has made ,” Jill said . “ He had worked so hard towards making it a forward-thinking company , and we are continuing to grow , with orders for the latest technology , such as Cliq and Abloy Beat .”
Mark is much missed at Appleyard , but there are daily reminders of his impact on customers and suppliers as they continue as he would have wanted , with business as usual .
And the key to Appleyard ’ s success , as always , is keeping people safe .
Although he was a competent musician , Mark rarely blew his own trumpet ( or French horn , in his case !).
So we ’ ll blow it for him . He joined the family business in the 1990s and took it from locks and keys to high-tech , pioneering the development of systems to make people , places and their belongings safe .
Safety was in his bones , and he always went the extra mile . Doing what he could to make people safe was his passion .
He went beyond expectation to get a job done , troubleshooting beyond anyone else ’ s capability , often even surprising manufacturers . His motto was , “ There ’ s always another way ” and he would find it , demonstrating his dogged determination to see things through .
He was innovative and creative , achieving many milestones in the industry , including : > Installing the first-ever access control system in a school . Mark was desperate to help after a terrible incident at a Middlesbrough school .
> Installing the first-ever access control system in a maternity ward after a Middlesbrough mum ’ s newborn baby had been kidnapped from James Cook University Hospital – and the system is still working after more than 20 years ! > He was the first to install access control on mental health unit bedroom doors .
> He was central to developing a keyless anti-ligature locking system to secure mental health units , which has been of huge importance in the mental health sector . But he didn ’ t stop there and continued to innovate , culminating in a retrofit wireless version , which is due to be rolled out , and has been nominated for Best Concept at this year ’ s Design in Mental Health Exhibition .
> In the 1990s Mark was sought out after an enquiry into the Piper Alpha disaster . He collaborated with Occidental to create a system that came to be known as “ Lockout-tagout ”, now extensively used to prevent deaths in oil and gas and electricity production . Mark had a unique skill set , which was enhanced by the talents of his staff , and the team is clearly proud to be continuing his legacy and striding forward as he would want .
As Mark would say , “ Onwards and upwards ”. Appleyard Security continues to serve and deliver the best service and products , not just in his memory , but for the benefit of all .
Legacy – The team at Appleyard Security continues to benefit from the huge contribution of former owner Mark Boynton .
PICTURE : DOUG MOODY
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