A FATHER who 'took his eye off the ball' when it came to his business after the death of his son has used lockdown to reinvent his company.

Adrian Standerwick, director of Active CCTV, has launched a new-look website, branding and mission statement to mark two decades of the Mochdre-based firm.

Four years ago Adrian and his wife Debbie lost their beloved son Sam; the 25-year-old died from an unknown heart condition.

Adrian, who also has sons Simon, Matthew and daughter Amy, threw himself into charity work and launched the Sam Standerwick Memorial Fund but his business took a back seat.

“We were working all over the country, and Sam was my main installer, so when he passed away it had a devastating impact and made me reflect on everything,” said the 54 year old

“Matthew stepped into the breach and took over the installation side of the business, if it hadn’t been for him and the way he took on the challenge we would never have survived those first few months - I am so thankful and proud of him for that.

"As a company we had started to concentrate too much on the big national jobs, the hotel and pub chains, petrol stations, supermarkets and warehouse distribution.

Rhyl Journal:

Adrian Standerwick

"That was all fantastic, and at one point our turnover was more than £500,000, but I had lost sight of where it all began and what we were about.

“For the first few years if anyone wanted security systems installing in our local area, they would come to us, but that changed – I had to do something about it, and have.”

Adrian previously owned a signage firm before a career in sales took him across the country and eventually to Llanddulas, near Abergele.

"At the time certain companies were selling alarms but none were really doing CCTV,” Adrian said.

“Using my sales background, I began to drum up interest, and while it was a steep learning curve from the electrical and fitting side of it, things started to take off.

“One thing I always want us to be is at the forefront of new technology and equipment, and within a year of us launching we were the very first company in North Wales to install a PC-based CCTV system - from there we grew and grew.”

The priority for Adrian is now is re-establishing the company in North Wales and beyond.

The Memorial Fund will continue to promote CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) and raise awareness of SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome).

“The support we have had from Sam’s friends and the local community in particular has been incredible,” said Adrian.

“We have raised more than £50,000, which has enabled us to match-fund 15 defibrillators and screen more than 600 youngsters in our local area.

"Those efforts will continue, and we are so grateful to everyone who has helped us.

“I’ve learned that you should never lose sight of where you are from and where you started, and that’s a tough lesson."