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KEEPING TRADITION AT THE HEART OF SECURITY: AC LEIGH
From a Post-War Vision to a Modern Security Specialist
In Norwich, AC Leigh has evolved alongside the locksmithing and architectural ironmongery trade for more than six decades. Founded in 1959 by former pilot Arthur Charles Leigh after the Second World War, it has grown from a traditional lock supplier into one of the UK’ s leading architectural ironmongers and secure access specialists.
Today, with around 100 staff across Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester, the company continues to expand while staying rooted in its heritage. We spoke with locksmith Roger Cutting, who has spent 22 years with the business, and Marketing Manager Patrycja Reimus, both helping shape the balance between traditional service and modern security solutions.
From Builders Merchant to Locksmith
Roger’ s route into locksmithing was anything but straightforward.“ I originally worked at a builders’ merchant for about five or six years and then went into general building,” says Roger.“ But I didn’ t see myself doing that forever because it’ s physically demanding. The job at AC Leigh was perfect timing.”
He started on the trade counter, handling sales and serving customers before gradually moving into locksmithing.“ About 11 years ago we got really busy on the locksmithing side, so I started helping out,” he says.“ One of the locksmiths trained me and it progressed from covering holidays and sickness to doing jobs on my own.”
Today, Roger works solely as a locksmith, covering everything from emergency lockouts to planned security upgrades.“ Every day is different,” he says.“ I get my appointments on my phone and go from job to job. One minute you’ re gaining entry to a house and the next you’ re carrying out surveys or fitting new ironmongery.”
The Challenge of Locksmithing Never Changes
Despite advances in technology, Roger says the core challenge remains the same.“ The biggest challenge is always gaining access because no locks are ever the same. Some jobs take minutes, others take hours depending on what’ s fitted.”
A growing issue is poor workmanship from unqualified operators.“ We see jobs where someone’ s had a go and made things worse,” says Roger.“ Then we have to go in and put it right properly.”
10
MAY 2026
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