“I started my time as an auto electrician, like many others at the time, by shadowing my mentor and absorbing all the knowledge that I could as a junior. As my knowledge expanded, and having spent some years at one of London’s largest manufacturers and installers of vehicle security systems, my client base began to grow. My clients trusted me to offer a good quality, well-installed security product for their vehicle, whether it was a delivery van for the local market, an HGV, or a high-end car, gaining me the nickname “Larry the lock”.

In the early ‘80s, I could see a market forming and felt the time was right for us to move into a retail store and workshop, so we could offer more services and products (and stay out of the rain!). The staff grew, and so did the clientele – we continued to grow in both the retail and trade sectors, working for vehicle dealerships up and down the country, building and installing security systems for the likes of the AA, London Electricity Board, BT, and large delivery companies, to name a few.

Then, in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, the audio boom came! Alongside security, audio began to play a big part in our company’s history. We would be doing large installations, averaging £5-6k, but some over £20k, on a weekly basis. We began offering big name brands such as Pioneer, Alpine, Kenwood, Rockford, Fosgate, Orion, and my personal favourites, JBL, Hifonics, and Cerwin Vega. AVA also got involved in the competition scene, with our own demo car, and some of our customers’ vehicles securing big wins!

Our next step was to move to a larger premises, from Deptford Broadway to Lee High, Lewisham, which remains our home today. We have continued on the same forward path, with staff and customers always following. It was at this time when my son, Sam, took over the reins, and under his leadership the business has gone from strength to strength, entering new areas of the automotive and HGV sectors. It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to watch it grow, and to have been servicing happy customers for so many years now – and hopefully many more to come!”