Built to Last: A Locksmithing Legacy Passed Through Generations

For Mark Ward of MLA Approved Company Anglia Locksmiths, locksmithing is more than just a career— it’s a way of life that began before he was even born. In 1964, in the Fenland town of Wisbech, his father, Ray Ward, was running a painters and decorators shop when an American tourist walked in and changed everything.

Fred Patterson, a locksmith visiting from the US, asked if he’d ever thought about cutting keys. That chance encounter sparked a cross-Atlantic friendship. Fred began sending locks, keys, and handwritten training materials — helping Ray train remotely in the trade.

The decorators shop soon evolved into a traditional ironmongers and locksmiths, eventually becoming Anglia Locksmiths, a name that’s still trusted across Cambridgeshire today.

A Childhood Shaped by Locks, Gum, and Stories

Ray Ward at the key cutting machine — a familiar sight in the family business and a symbol of skill passed down through generations.

Growing up in the family shop, Mark was immersed in the trade from an early age — key cutting cylinder keys on weekends and chatting with customers during school holidays. Locksmithing wasn’t just work — it was family life.

“One early memory that’s stayed with me is watching my dad open this huge safe,” Mark recalls. “Inside, it was stuffed full of Green Shield stamps. If I wanted new school trousers or a bag, I had to spend the weekend sticking those stamps into books. I can still taste the gum!”

School life brought its own locksmith-related mishaps. “Once, in primary school, we were asked to write a story about what we did over the holidays. I wrote a vivid account of helping my dad break into this enormous safe. My English teacher thought I was being dragged into a life of crime and went straight to the headmaster. Thankfully, he knew my dad and cleared it up — but to this day, she still brings it up and laughs whenever I see her.”

Carrying the locksmithing Torch — Through the Tough Years

Mark Ward with his siblings and their father, Ray — the man who sparked a family legacy in locksmithing.

After leaving school, Mark joined the business under the old Youth Training Scheme. The learning was hands-on, sometimes tough, and very much sink or swim. He completed his apprenticeship just as Ray’s health declined, and found himself suddenly in charge — supported by his mother, but facing growing pressure.

“This was during the peak of the house repossession crisis in the 1980s,” he says. “We were doing three or four a day. I had to learn very quickly — and I often felt very lonely.”

There were no online forums, no YouTube videos, no Facebook groups. “You couldn’t just type in a problem and get ten replies — you had to figure it out yourself. I desperately wished I had other locksmiths to talk to, but I didn’t. I wanted to join the MLA even then, but between running the business and lacking confidence for the exam, it just wasn’t possible.”

Mark also fondly remembers the early days attending MLA conferences with his father:
“I fondly remember going to the MLA conferences in Nottingham with my father — stopping in hotels, listening to the many lectures over the weekend, and occasionally falling asleep during the longer ones.”

One job during that period still stings: repossessing the house of his girlfriend’s parents. “Needless to say, that relationship didn’t last much longer,” he jokingly adds.

A Family Business Through and Through

Ray Ward outside Anglia Locksmiths — the shop where a family tradition took root.

By the 1990s, Mark began focusing heavily on key cutting — building a stock of over 18,000 blanks and launching the Anglia Locksmiths 100% Guarantee: if a key doesn’t work, he’ll fix it personally, for free.

“Usually it’s just a bit of lubrication or a slight tweak,” he says. “But the guarantee sends a message — we care, and we back our work.”

Today, Mark is proud to say he can step back when needed — with a solid team keeping the business running smoothly.

• Mario, from Poland, brings key-cutting and transponder expertise to the bench.
• David, Mark’s brother-in-law, drives their second van and handles much of the local emergency work.
• Rosemarie, his sister, manages stock ordering and pricing.
• Sara, his wife, oversees the admin and keeps the finances in order.

“I finally feel confident leaving the shop in their hands,” Mark says. “For years I was ruled by my mobile emergency locksmith business — 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I didn’t realise how stressful that was, until recently. Now, thanks to David being on the road, I can switch off occasionally and actually enjoy a Sunday lunch without being interrupted.”

Their three children — Aimee, Casey, and Ashleigh — are keeping their options open. “They’re all too clever to follow me into this job!” Mark jokes. “I won’t force them. Times are changing fast, and the future for independent locksmiths looks tough.”

Looking Back — and Looking Forward as a Locksmith

From Green Shield stamps to transponders and titanium curtain picks, Mark Ward’s story is a testament to grit, integrity, and family. While the trade continues to evolve, his core values remain unchanged.

“Everything we’ve built has come from doing the job properly — and treating people fairly,” he says. “If that still counts for something, we’ll be here for years to come.”

In 2020, Mark fulfilled a long-standing goal by becoming an MLA Approved Locksmith Company — a mark of professionalism and commitment that reflects decades of dedication.

And the MLA is proud to count Anglia Locksmiths among its Approved Companies — carrying the torch not just for trusted locksmithing, but for the stories, relationships and family spirit that hold the trade together.

More interviews with locksmiths

To find out more about Anglia Locksmiths, visit Anglia Locksmiths Company Profile

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