ABOUT US

ANCHOR WAS BORN A LONG TIME AGO...

In 1976 Stephen Remmington left Post Office Telecoms, with nothing but an in-depth knowledge of some practical technical areas. He dreamed not of owning a successful company but providing a tip-top service where he could serve ordinary people with his audio system expertise.

He did various odd jobs. He was a driver, a salesman, but with the desire to manage his own future, he eventually spoke to a relation who had started importing security entry system equipment. He kindly gave him a handset as a sample to use when starting off. Thus, Anchor Sound & Security was born.

Steve had nothing. No capital, no backing, no support. He cashed in his BT pension pot and got himself an old Renault 4 van for £550 and made his first door entry system up at home. His first sale in 1980, was a small audio entry system to a block of flats in Cassio Road, Watford.

What he did have, was a strong sense that accuracy of installation and failsafe methods would be the key to a reputable firm. He understood that persons' security – literally their front door – was at stake for them, and acted with the same care as he would in locking his own front door. This sense of integrity and professional tradesmanship is borne out by the fact he is still being called back personally by clients with installations he fitted for them 40 years ago.

This commitment to high quality long-lived systems was not easy. It made Anchor a more expensive option in the short term, it meant spending long hours on the jobs, it meant less call-backs and service work as the job had been done right first time. Only the best quality equipment was used, and tested under Steve’s careful eye for operational or technical flaws. This didn’t seem to be a commercially advantageous strategy, but there are literally hundreds of customer recommendations later, the facts that tell a different story.

For instance in 1981, he installed his first 20 handset system for 2 complete blocks of apartments in a new development called High Firs in Radlett. Thirty eight years later, this same client has recently come back to Steve for a complete replacement of the original system – not because it was broken, but because they are refurbishing the building and adding penthouses, and wanted to upgrade the system to video.

Today, he still tells his entire team, “Do it properly.”

Joined by the family members and handpicked tradesmen, today the company is ten strong and has diversified into many other telecommunications areas including audio visual solutions for businesses and schools, security CCTV and large data network installations. Steve is still involved in the business and takes a keen interest in what Anchor has become.