Notice Board
Excalibur Security is a mobile auto locksmith, based in Billinge near St Helens, and is one of the UK’ s longest-established companies in the trade. to my brother and focused solely on locksmithing. This was the best move I ever made.
Building Trust the Old-School Way
We’ re based in Billinge near St Helens and Wigan, which is a great position really, with Manchester and Preston nearby, and the M6 just three miles away. Location has definitely helped, but it’ s relationships that built the business.
I got involved with the police early on, with good intentions as a Scouser! I always say that and laugh. But they trusted me, and those connections opened doors. Literally and figuratively. When you do the job right, it pays back. We still have most of our original customers. We’ ve worked for Ford and Vauxhall for about 20 years now, plus Enterprise as a nominated contractor. Because we’ ve been in it a long time and proven ourselves, they’ ve stuck with us. We don’ t advertise, we don’ t do Facebook or social media. We don’ t need to. They call us, we go out, then give them the bill afterward. No estimates. That only comes from decades of trust.
A Family Business, the Right Way
Adam, my son, now runs the business. I taught him everything. He sat with me for 12 months learning the job properly. These days, too many people go into the trade after doing a four-day course. It’ s not enough. They end up killing a car, then tell the customer something’ s wrong with it when( really) they just can’ t sort it.
Experience matters in this trade. Time matters. Mistakes teach you more than any course can. Adam learned the right way because he learned it hands-on.
I’ m part-time now, but funnily enough, I’ ve worked every day this week. I’ m a reserve for my son. I was planning to retire next April, but I’ ll keep my van and still do bits and pieces. Can’ t see myself stopping completely.
The ALA: Training, Mates & the Gala Rescue Act
I’ ve been in the Auto Locksmiths Association for 25 years. I joined because I had friends in it, and I stayed because you learn so much and the social side is brilliant.
Kenny always said I’ m quite a character. At the Saturday night Galas, we’ d have comedians and duos. Sometimes they weren’ t that funny( we’ re a difficult lot to please, always talking too much, not paying attention) they’ d start dying on stage, and next thing you know they’ re calling me up to help save them!“ Get Ian on” they’ d say, so I’ d come on,
Founded by Ian Casson, and now run by his son Adam Casson, the business provides specialist vehicle key, lock, and immobiliser services to long-standing clients including Ford, Vauxhall and major fleet organisations.
Known for reliability, deep technical expertise and decadesstrong customer relationships, they continue to operate without advertising, driven purely by reputation and trust.
www. mobile-autolocksmiths. co. uk excalibursecurity @ hotmail. co. uk 07831 872740
do a bit, get the crowd laughing. One of my lines: I’ m the only Scouser who gives you your keys rather than pinching them. That line always lands.
I’ ve made great mates through the ALA and the association’ s been a big part of my career.
A Life Well Lived – and Still Laughing
Outside the trade, I like my music. I used to play in a band back in the 60s, called‘ The Fascination’. We played at The Cavern twice in 1968. I was on keyboards. Jazz, blues, rock, country, we did the lot.
Retirement? We’ ll see. I’ ve got a lodge up in York we plan to use more, and I want to go abroad. I’ ve also got a plot of land next to my house with a log cabin on it. Needs perfecting. Needs some gardening. That’ ll keep me busy.
Being the first auto locksmith in Liverpool has been lucky for us, but we’ ve worked hard. We’ ve done the job right and it’ s paid back. Forty-plus years later and we’ re still trusted, still busy, still enjoying it. That says it all, really.
JANUARY 2026
9
Issue Takeover locksmithjournal. co. uk