AUTO LOCKSMITHS EXTRA
Celebrating 30 Years of the ALA:
From Fragmented Trade to Future-Proofing Auto Locksmithing
» AS THE AUTO LOCKSMITHS Association( ALA) prepares to celebrate its 30th anniversary at its upcoming meetup on 25-26 April in Nottingham, it marks far more than a milestone; it highlights a journey that has shaped, protected, and future-proofed the auto locksmithing trade.
From its origins as a small gathering of isolated specialists to a globally respected organisation, the ALA has played a pivotal role in uniting the trade, driving innovation, and ensuring locksmiths remain relevant in an increasingly complex automotive landscape. The Locksmith Journal is proud to tell the tale of its journey.
A Trade Without a Voice
Paul Souber, the founder of the ALA, has spent over 51 years in the lock industry. By the late 1980s, while manufacturing locksmith tools and supplying car lock parts, he identified a major issue: Auto locksmiths existed, but only as individuals. Paul told us:
“ There was no organisation, no training, no association anywhere in the world. Auto locksmiths were fragmented and isolated.”
Traditional bodies like the MLA did not cater for automotive specialists, despite the growing demand and increasing technical complexity of vehicle security. Frustrated but determined, Paul set out to bring the trade together.
The First Gathering – Nottingham, 1996
In early 1996, Paul organised a weekend meet-up at the Nottingham Gateway Hotel, inviting over 50 locksmiths who had identified themselves as doing automotive work.
The event featured, technical lectures from Steve Gallagher( Mercedes locks), Gary
Watts( impressioning), and Terry Watts, networking, discussion, and shared learning. Attendees including John Bodley and other early pioneers.
The response was overwhelmingly positive.“ At the end of the weekend, I asked- shall we do it again?” Paul recalls. That single question laid the foundation for what would become the ALA.
The Formation of the ALA
Although there were no immediate volunteers to form a committee, a core group soon emerged, including: Terry Watts, Gerry Bryant, Richard Blackburn, Peter Southern,( later Mark Whapples and later Rob Hassall( automotive electrician and long-serving chairman).
These individuals, alongside Paul, helped establish the structure and direction of the ALA, holding regular meetings and building a network that was run by locksmiths, for locksmiths.
The Turning Point: Transponders & AD100
As vehicle security evolved, the introduction of transponder systems created a major challenge. Manufacturers offered no training or support, leaving locksmiths locked out of modern vehicles. The breakthrough came when two former
Lucas engineers: Greg Chambers and Parmjit Singh, were introduced to the ALA through a chance meeting with Duncan of Hickley Valtone at Gerry Bryant’ s shop.
At an ALA meeting, the newly formed company Advanced Diagnostics Ltd proposed developing a diagnostic machine that could programme vehicle keys. When asked for commitment, 37 out of approximately 50 members raised their hands. That machine became the AD100.
It was the first tool of its kind available to independent auto locksmiths, transforming the trade and enabling programming capabilities previously restricted to dealerships only.
“ If we didn’ t have the ALA, we may not have had Advanced Diagnostics,” Paul explains.“ It all felt coincidental at the time, but was an integral to the future of the auto locksmithing trade.”
Built by the Trade, for the Trade
From the beginning, the ALA has been a professional body exclusively for working auto locksmiths, not a training school, but a network of qualified individuals committed to raising standards.
Over time, key figures such as Nicky Rutter and Ron Wakely developed the
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