Andy Lambert
Encyclopedia
Andy Lambert is well known in the vehicle recovery
industry having been managing director of both The National Rescue Group and Motor Trade Software. He is thought of as the father of Turbo Dispatch
and has contributed greatly to the industry's modern techniques in use today.
which is located in South West London, England. He attended Riversdale Junior School and then from 1958 until 1963 The Elliott School
(Elliott Web Site).
, Philips
and Redifon. During this time he also became a licensed Radio Amateur with the call sign G8HER. He joined a Kingston garage called Cambridge Coachworks in 1972 as a Recovery Controller and Radio Operator. Two years later he was Manager and had started a separate recovery division which he named National Rescue because he could not register the name ‘International Rescue’. By 1982 he and his brother Geoff had brought out the other shareholders and in the next few years, opened depots in Devon, London, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex and the Midlands. Their control room was located beside the Kingston Bypass at New Malden and their main Fleet Workshop, at the former Brooklands
race track near Weybridge, Surrey.
In 1986, together with Ian Lane, the two brothers formed a new software company to sell the computer system they had developed for themselves. This was called Motor Trade Software and was also based at Brooklands
in 'The Control Tower' (originally built for the famous pre-war Brooklands Aero Club and opened in 1933, disused by the late 1970s and restored by 1988). Until then there had been no attempt to produce software specifically tailored to the Recovery Industry and the product was an immediate success. Initially produced to operate in MSDOS, a Windows version soon followed and by 1992 over 1400 copies had been sold. The softwware was by now producing around 90% of the industries invoices.
In June 1994 because of Motor Trade Software’s domination of the Recovery Industry, Andy Lambert was able to organise a meeting of the main providers of work to the Recovery Industry. The meeting took place at Brooklands
and he was able to introduce the concept of Turbo Dispatch
. Over the next few years a network was set up across the UK and allowed everyone using it (Motoring Organisation Police Forces and Garages) to make large savings and increased efficiency significantly. By 2005 it was estimated that 92% of the 4 million Incidents dealt with by the independent recovery industry were sent over Turbo Dispatch
.
asked National Rescue to collect part of a weighbridge to assist its restoration of the historic Edwardian BARC
Clubhouse, thus started his long association with the Museum which was just being established at that time and formally opened in 1991. For some 25 years he has organised the acquisition, recovery and/or transport of some 40 full-size historic Brooklands-related aircraft including a Hawker Hurricane
, Vickers Vimy
and Concorde
. His support for the museum's work has also involved organising and assisting with many aviation and motoring events at Brooklands and elsewhere including airshows, flypasts and even fly-ins for light aircraft at Brooklands (from 1990–2003).
, in 2005 Andy was asked to become a Trustee in RISC UK (Recovery Industry Support Charity), a role in which he is very active. In 1989 he was award the Phil Briercliffe Gold Award as the Most Outstanding Personality of the Year. In 2004 Andy was made a Fellow of the Institute of Vehicle Recovery. Two years later at the Institute’s Annual Dinner, in recognition of his contribution to the industry, he was awarded their Lifetime Achievements Award (Professional Recovery April 2006). In June 2010 at the European Tow Show he was again awarded a lifetime achievement for his work on Turbo Dispatch
and more recently his work with RISC (Telford Tow Times 25 June 2010 Cover).
Vehicle recovery
Vehicle recovery is the recovery of any vehicle to another place, generally speaking with a commercial vehicle known as a recovery vehicle, tow truck or spectacle lift....
industry having been managing director of both The National Rescue Group and Motor Trade Software. He is thought of as the father of Turbo Dispatch
Turbo dispatch
Turbo Dispatch is a public domain standard for the electronic transfer of job details, initially using packet radio, but now also using the Internet. It is used throughout the United Kingdom to pass the details of stranded motorists between all the major UK motoring organisations and their 500 plus...
and has contributed greatly to the industry's modern techniques in use today.
Early life and education
Andy Lambert was born in 1946 and grew up living in Replingham Road, SouthfieldsSouthfields
Southfields is a suburban district in the London Borough of Wandsworth, England, situated 5.6 miles south-west of Charing Cross where Serena Frazer lives. Southfields is located partly in the SW18 postcode area and partly in SW19....
which is located in South West London, England. He attended Riversdale Junior School and then from 1958 until 1963 The Elliott School
Elliott School (London)
Elliott School is a co-educational foundation school and sixth form college in Pullman Gardens, Putney, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It has Language College specialist status through which it gained a European Award for Languages in 2004, the International School Award from the British...
(Elliott Web Site).
Career in Vehicle Recovery
After leaving school he followed his interest in radio communications by working for telecommunication companies like DeccaDecca Radar
The Decca Company, a British gramophone manufacturer that, as Decca Records, released records under the Decca label, contributed to the British war effort during the Second World War...
, Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
and Redifon. During this time he also became a licensed Radio Amateur with the call sign G8HER. He joined a Kingston garage called Cambridge Coachworks in 1972 as a Recovery Controller and Radio Operator. Two years later he was Manager and had started a separate recovery division which he named National Rescue because he could not register the name ‘International Rescue’. By 1982 he and his brother Geoff had brought out the other shareholders and in the next few years, opened depots in Devon, London, Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex and the Midlands. Their control room was located beside the Kingston Bypass at New Malden and their main Fleet Workshop, at the former Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
race track near Weybridge, Surrey.
In 1986, together with Ian Lane, the two brothers formed a new software company to sell the computer system they had developed for themselves. This was called Motor Trade Software and was also based at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
in 'The Control Tower' (originally built for the famous pre-war Brooklands Aero Club and opened in 1933, disused by the late 1970s and restored by 1988). Until then there had been no attempt to produce software specifically tailored to the Recovery Industry and the product was an immediate success. Initially produced to operate in MSDOS, a Windows version soon followed and by 1992 over 1400 copies had been sold. The softwware was by now producing around 90% of the industries invoices.
In June 1994 because of Motor Trade Software’s domination of the Recovery Industry, Andy Lambert was able to organise a meeting of the main providers of work to the Recovery Industry. The meeting took place at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
and he was able to introduce the concept of Turbo Dispatch
Turbo dispatch
Turbo Dispatch is a public domain standard for the electronic transfer of job details, initially using packet radio, but now also using the Internet. It is used throughout the United Kingdom to pass the details of stranded motorists between all the major UK motoring organisations and their 500 plus...
. Over the next few years a network was set up across the UK and allowed everyone using it (Motoring Organisation Police Forces and Garages) to make large savings and increased efficiency significantly. By 2005 it was estimated that 92% of the 4 million Incidents dealt with by the independent recovery industry were sent over Turbo Dispatch
Turbo dispatch
Turbo Dispatch is a public domain standard for the electronic transfer of job details, initially using packet radio, but now also using the Internet. It is used throughout the United Kingdom to pass the details of stranded motorists between all the major UK motoring organisations and their 500 plus...
.
Brooklands Museum
In 1984 Brooklands MuseumBrooklands Museum
Brooklands Museum is an independent charitable trust, established in 1987, whose aim is to conserve, protect and interpret the unique heritage of the Brooklands site. It is located south of Weybridge, Surrey and was first opened regularly in 1991 on of the original 1907 motor-racing circuit...
asked National Rescue to collect part of a weighbridge to assist its restoration of the historic Edwardian BARC
BARC
Barc or BARC may refer to:Institutions* Beltsville Agricultural Research Center* Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, an Indian nuclear research facility* Bradford Amateur Rowing Club* British Automobile Racing ClubVessels and vehicles* Barque...
Clubhouse, thus started his long association with the Museum which was just being established at that time and formally opened in 1991. For some 25 years he has organised the acquisition, recovery and/or transport of some 40 full-size historic Brooklands-related aircraft including a Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
, Vickers Vimy
Vickers Vimy
The Vickers Vimy was a British heavy bomber aircraft of the First World War and post-First World War era. It achieved success as both a military and civil aircraft, setting several notable records in long-distance flights in the interwar period, the most celebrated of which was the first non-stop...
and Concorde
Concorde
Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner, a supersonic transport . It was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, combining the manufacturing efforts of Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation...
. His support for the museum's work has also involved organising and assisting with many aviation and motoring events at Brooklands and elsewhere including airshows, flypasts and even fly-ins for light aircraft at Brooklands (from 1990–2003).
Charity and Major Awards
Along with his ongoing work at Brooklands MuseumBrooklands Museum
Brooklands Museum is an independent charitable trust, established in 1987, whose aim is to conserve, protect and interpret the unique heritage of the Brooklands site. It is located south of Weybridge, Surrey and was first opened regularly in 1991 on of the original 1907 motor-racing circuit...
, in 2005 Andy was asked to become a Trustee in RISC UK (Recovery Industry Support Charity), a role in which he is very active. In 1989 he was award the Phil Briercliffe Gold Award as the Most Outstanding Personality of the Year. In 2004 Andy was made a Fellow of the Institute of Vehicle Recovery. Two years later at the Institute’s Annual Dinner, in recognition of his contribution to the industry, he was awarded their Lifetime Achievements Award (Professional Recovery April 2006). In June 2010 at the European Tow Show he was again awarded a lifetime achievement for his work on Turbo Dispatch
Turbo dispatch
Turbo Dispatch is a public domain standard for the electronic transfer of job details, initially using packet radio, but now also using the Internet. It is used throughout the United Kingdom to pass the details of stranded motorists between all the major UK motoring organisations and their 500 plus...
and more recently his work with RISC (Telford Tow Times 25 June 2010 Cover).