A fire and security company is celebrating 50 years of keeping homes and businesses in Welwyn Hatfield safe.
T.J. Fire & Security are well known in the borough, with their red, white, and orange vans a common site on the roads of Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield.
2023 marks half a century of business, but it wasn't always big offices and even bigger clients, with the company having very humble beginnings.
Back in 1973, father and son team Trefor and John Rees both worked in Welwyn Garden City, selling fire extinguishers for Minimax, until Trefor proposed that they started up their own business.
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T.J Fire Ltd. was founded later that year, operating from a house in Daniels in Panshanger, that saw a converted bedroom used as an office, and a garage as a warehouse.
Trefor's wife Mary would also join the business and work in the office, while John's wife came onboard in 1976.
The company quickly established itself in the borough and picked up some big clients, providing fire safety equipment to Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, the original QEII hospital, Welwyn Department Stores, Shredded Wheat, British Aerospace and many more.
Even today, some of these are still T.J's clients.
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The business would grown further in the early 2000s, with John and Janet's children, Natalie and Gavin, both joining after leaving their careers in nursing and marketing.
Changes followed, with security services now being provided, the company logo getting a redesign, and fellow fire safety business Prompt Fire Protection being purchased in 2019.
As the company celebrates 50 years, T.J's founders were keen to thank customers and look ahead to many more years of success.
"As the company looks back over its 50-year history we would like to thank all past and current customers and all valuable staff members who have contributed to our 50 years of success and look forward to welcoming many new customers," read a statement.
"Here’s to the next 50 years."
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