IVR on the move.
The Institute of Vehicle Recovery has moved to Bignell House, Horton Road, West Drayton, Middlesex UB7 8EP. Its new phone and fax numbers are 01895 436426 (phone) and 01895 436412 (fax). IVR Training Services has also moved to the same address. Its phone number is 01895 436411 while its fax number is the same as that of the IVR. The IVR are also pleased to announce that forthcoming course dates have been introduced in the TRAINING section of their web site at www.theIVR.com

New lightbar from Vision Alert.
A new lightbar range, the Blaze 2 offers a 20 per cent improvement in light output through the use of free-form optics, according to its manufacturer, Vision Alert.

The Blaze 2 is 400mm long and 108mm high and is designed for use on small vans and light trucks. It comes in five combinations of amber, green, red and blue and is claimed to be the lowest profile lightbar on the market to include rotating reflectors. High-power quad flash Xenon versions are available with 10-30V energy-saving technology.

"As well as improved light output, Blaze 2 offers cost effectiveness and a more advanced magnetic fixing system than competing products," says Stephen Cummings, Vision Alert managing director. "It also combines the original Blaze advantages of the flexibility of a beacon and the performance of a lightbar." Vision Alert 01904 415000
www.visionalert.co.uk

Rough roads activating air bags?.
Side air bags may not be very common in the UK, but as their use spreads in the USA there will be a fair chance we will follow the American lead.

However all is not well in some models, and US regulators are investigating reports that side air bags in 1999 and 2000 model year Lincoln Continentals may go off inadvertently.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into 23 complaints about driver or passenger side air bags that allegedly deployed without a vehicle crash. Nine of the 23 incidents were reported in 1999 and 14 were in 2000.

Ford - owners of Lincoln - have investigated and confirmed some of the incidents, the NHTSA says. Ford says the air bag deployments are from "undercarriage impacts" and are "most likely to occur on gravel roads," according to a NHTSA report

. Ford have modified the calibration and mounting of the air bag sensors located under the front seats. No further incidents have been reported since those changes were put into production. .

RMSL launches call management service.
RMSL - Recovery Management Services Ltd - has launched a call management service for the recovery industry.

RMSL can provide a permanent call management service or can manage calls on an ad-hoc basis.

"How do you handle your calls in the evenings and weekends at the moment?" is the question John Marks of RMSL puts to recovery operators. "If you employ a controller then you will be interested to know that we can save you anywhere from £1,200 per month by handling the calls for you and you don't have to worry if the controller is sick, doesn't turn up for work etc - we are always here 24 hours of each and every day.

"If you handle the calls yourself then try and remember when you last had a good nights sleep."

To find out more ring RMSL on 0121 783 4422.

GEORGE MARSHALL.
The sudden death of George Marshall was mourned across the industry. Professional Recovery talks to those who knew and loved him.

The recovery industry lost one of its great characters last month with the untimely death of George Marshall at the age of 57. And the one sad refrain which comes from those who knew him is: "He was a good guy who was killed by the pressure of the job."

George came from a farming background where he had worked with tractors and other machinery, before starting a long history in the recovery business.

At the funeral his widow, Susie, recounted one of George's early experiences. "When George was a young recovery driver he attended an RTA one night and was devastated to find that one of his closest friends was fatally injured. John Sierman died in George's arms at the age of 22, and since that moment George treated every day as a bonus, to be thoroughly enjoyed."

George worked for some years for Lawrence Buck Recovery Services in Fakenham before setting up his own business. But he also had a run of bad luck, with business partners who proved not always to be working in George's best interests.

"He was a good recovery operator and received many awards for service excellence, including the RAC Managing Director's Award which was created especially for him in 1993," says Roger Dawson of Rogers Rescue in Worcestershire. "Unfortunately George put his trust in the wrong people in his business ventures."

"He was a hell of a character much loved by all who knew him," adds Shaun Curtis of Curtis Mechanical Services in Oxfordshire. "He was one of the old school and in his company you didn't have to watch your wallet or your back. I will sorely miss him."

After being let down twice, George started a new business from scratch. He had a few older trucks, but with a small team of loyal employees and low overheads was able to get going by building on his good reputation and he quickly secured some business from a few of the motoring clubs. However while putting a brave face on it, the new business was apparently getting deeper into debt - a reminder that no matter how good you are, it isn't easy to make a living out of recovery.

Susie said at the funeral: "Over the last 18 months when things went disastrously wrong, he never stopped going out to play with his mates. He kept on doing the most important things - shooting and fishing and occasionally dancing all night, and always laughing and clowning around.

"The stress may have broken his heart, but it never bowed his spirit and he fought his corner to the end. Friends have happy memories of talking and laughing with him right up to the last moments of his life. It's how he would have chosen to go."

"He was faced with problem after problem," adds Roger Dawson. "The job killed him."

It's a measure of George's popularity that other operators were quick to extend support to Susie and his family. Among those were Roger Dawson, Shaun Curtis, James Sparrow from S&H Recovery, and Jack Davies and John Vickery from On-Time.

They're hoping to make sure that George's family will be secure in the future.

The funeral was held at George's local church where more than 400 people attended, including many from the recovery industry. In all the cards and letters received by his family the overwhelming theme was that George was always ready and willing to help anyone in trouble at any time, and with good humour.

A fund to support George's family has been started by a group of his friends, and if you'd like to make a contribution you can do so at any branch of the Nationwide Building Society, making your cheque payable to the Nationwide Building Society, account reference 33333334 with "to the George Marshall Memorial Fund" written on the back, or you can send a cheque to the fund, care of Roger Dawson at Rogers Rescue, Vale Road, Stourport on Severn, Worcestershire DY13 8YL.

Says Roger: "I'd like to thank all those who have already contributed to the fund. This is greatly appreciated." So if you'd like to add your support, contact Roger, or pop along to your nearest Nationwide branch.

The last word comes from Susie, who says: "I want to express my deep and heartfelt gratitude for the wonderful practical help and emotional support that we have had from all our good friends in the industry."

He also asked that the problem be returned from the police to the local authorities. "Recovery companies would, we are sure, undertake the removal of these vehicles for the local authorities, probably at a reduced rate, thus easing a burden for them."