40 • LOCKEX2018 PREVIEW
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SEVEN THINGS YOU DIDN ’ T KNOW ABOUT JASON TYLER
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JASON TYLER , 47 , STARTED UP HIS own locksmith business after 25 years in the Army . Now living in Rochdale , with his wife and daughter , he dedicates his spare time to raising awareness for mental health after his own journey to the “ darkest place ”. Here he tells The Locksmith Journal how the Army allowed him to travel the world in some of the toughest situations but the return to “ Civvy Street ” was his hardest challenge …
1 . A JOKE THAT TURNED INTO A JOB
“ I started locksmithing when I was in the military . When I was working at the intelligence centre , we kept locking ourselves out of the Mk 4 Manifoils and I jokingly said ‘ one of us should do this course to save money ’. I did a couple of courses and found it really cool that we could pick locks , then just became obsessed with it . I then did another course in Birmingham with Jason Hillier - a legend of the trade - and we now are close friends . In total I think I did about 12 weeks-worth of courses , and I ’ ve tried to work with individuals who I knew I could learn from one-to-one . After only five years , I ’ ve started picking open older safes and looking at going in that direction . I ’ ve spent nearly 6 years building up my reputation and business and have met some great guys along the way .”
2 . BUILDING RIDES , MENDING LIVES “ I am Ambassador of the Veterans Garage charity in Manchester ; born from a young royal engineer called Jayson Redshaw who saw his best friend killed in action and never really got over it . The charity was set up by his dad and brother with the aim to have a one-stop-shop for veterans in a facility that can give advice , counselling , work opportunities , training opportunities , and employment , but most of all , a safe environment to be around like-minded individuals , whether they be former servicemen or civilians . The charity ’ s HQ will take the shape of a converted grade-2 listed former terminal building on Barton aerodrome , Eccles . The current premises will be converted into a terminal building where most facilities will be , there will also be a smokehouse and bar to will help fund money back into the project . Last but not least , there will be the garage to restore motorbikes and cars . We have also been donated 30 acres of land to run activities outdoors such as Tough Mudder style events and a respite retreat on the North Wales coast . After a 16-month planning delay we are now back on track . In the meantime , we ’ ve completely converted a building situated next door into a business centre for Veterans Garage .”
3 . AS SEEN ON TV “ I was working away on a job when an old friend got in touch and said a lady from London was going to call and would I listen to what she had to say . I trusted him and said ‘ okay , just for you ’. She called , and two weeks later I signing a contract for Channel 4 ’ s SAS Who Dares Wins . The program takes 25 volunteers and over nine days gives them an experience of what ’ s required of the Special Forces selection process . One of the toughest challenges is the resistance to interrogation phase , which is where I came in . I was known to Ant Middleton ( the program ’ s chief instructor ) as I ran the resistance phase of his own selection course . This series was filmed in Morocco and under contract I was not allowed to tell anyone until it aired , so a lot of people were not expecting to see me on TV . It made the school run quite an event ! Now , only fans of the show recognise me , and I was known as the nasty man ! I now often help out Ollie Ollerton and the gang down at Breakpoint in Sussex ; the subjects I instructed on are all classified , but all Human Intelligence areas , mainly around resisting interrogation and surviving captivity .”
4 . ARMY DAYS : “ AN AWESOME JOB ” “ I joined up at 16 , as a junior leader . I had a colourful career , but never attained my long service and good conduct medal , which I qualified for twice . That didn ’ t stop me gaining the rank and position as Warrant officer class 1 and Regimental Sergeant Major appointments . For the
last 10 years of my career , I worked in the Human intelligence and Psychological warfare areas and was an instructor and advisor at the highest levels . This in turn led me to work with the Special Forces community . I was in a very small select unit that was used to train people who were deemed prone to capture and exploitation . I served in every theatre of operation that the UK forces went to in my time ; from Northern Ireland to Bosnia to the Middle East to the USA . The Army allowed me to basically travel the world doing an awesome job .”
5 . “ EVERY DAY ’ S A GOOD DAY , NO MATTER HOW BAD I FEEL ”
“ When I left the Army in 2013 , I was determined to start a new life for my family . My daughter was around 6-yearsold but I ’ d only seen her for around two of them in reality . Even the day she was born - Christmas Day - I was back at work the next day . When I left I thought I ’ d transitioned well into ‘ civvy ’ life . In fact , I was suffering massively with mental
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL . CO . UK | MAY / JUN 2018