EXECUTIVE NEWS continued
OBITUARY
Even in this special 40th Anniversary issue, we have to reflect the ever-changing nature of our industry and it is our sad duty to report that our industry has lost one of its good guys. As we were preparing our round-up of hirer comments for this issue, we contacted Rapid Tool Hire in Watford to speak to Director Gary Richards, to be informed that he passed away in April after a short illness.
Gary (left) and fellow Director Alan Thorpe were photographed outside their branch in January when we called in to see them in the lead-up to this year’s Executive Hire Show.
Altrad-Belle’s TV success
Altrad-Belle’s BMD 300 all-terrain mini dumper recently started on the small screen when it appeared on The Alan Titchmarch Show on ITV. The programme was highlighting products that could simplify gardening and landscaping tasks, and the presenter, who rose to prominence following his appearances in the Gardeners’ World series, described the machine as being “the wheelbarrow to beat all wheelbarrows”. The unit has a 300kg
payload capacity and can go through a standard doorway. It can be fitted with a flatbed to carry awkward or oversized loads, and turf tyres can be specified for work on soft ground. In addition, a snow plough attachment is being developed. Also appearing on the programme was the Belle Warrior contractors’ wheelbarrow, which has a tough, high density polyethylene 100-litre capacity tray and incorporates an adjustable wheel plate for better balance, helping to preventing back strain.
Beaver makes heads turn
Alan and Gary worked together from August 1981 at Dwyer Hire in Borehamwood. In April 1995, they formed Rapid Tool Hire and bought Dwyer’s Northwood shop. In 2000, they merged with Economy Hire’s Chorleywood branch and completed their current three outlet line-up in 2004 with the purchase of Dwyer’s St Albans Road, Watford premises. Incidentally, these premises have housed a tool hire shop since 1970, when Patrick Dwyer established Dwyer Hire on the site. Alan Thorpe commented, “Together Gary and I completed the London to Brighton cycle race on four occasions to raise money for the Heart Foundation. He is, and will always be, sadly missed by all of us at Rapid. Many of our customers attended his funeral, which was further testimony to Gary’s popularity.” On behalf of our hire industry, we offer belated condolences to Gary’s wife, son and daughter. We also send our best wishes to his son-in-law, Anthony Wilson, who has since been appointed Manager at Rapid’s Watford branch.
Beaver Tool Hire’s principal depot in Chichester is stopping the traffic with a full size replica of a Yanmar SVO8-1 micro excavator on the roof of its premises. John Baggott, General Manager, first had the idea of placing topical items in a prominent position to arouse interest 20 years ago, and previous displays have included a cage stunt inspired by magician David Blaine, a series of wheelbarrows, painted red and welded together in formation to symbolise the Red Arrows’ display team, and a General Election Swing-O-Meter. John chose the replica Yanmar machine as its current showpiece to highlight
Beaver’s recent purchase of its eighth mini from Ammann Equipment, and he is gauging the reaction of people as they go past the building, which is beside the busy A27 Chichester bypass. “We have had comments along the lines of ‘did you strengthen the roof?’ and ‘what if you have to hire it out?’” he told EHN. The real SV08-1 weighs 1035kg and, with a track width ranging from 680 to 840mm, is suitable work in areas with narrow access. The folding ROPS frame facilitates entry into buildings and a double acting auxiliary circuit provides the power to drive an auger or hammer.
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