A Dorset success story which really did start life on the drawing board is marking the changing of the guard.

James Walker, 36, has been appointed Managing Director of Walker AEC in Poole.

He takes up the reins from his father, Martyn, 63, who still owns the business but becomes Chairman.

The company, which focuses on landing gear, hydraulic and actuation assemblies and components for both civil and military use, employs 48 people and exports to North America, Holland, Germany, Luxemburg, Italy and Sweden.

Its turnover in the year to March 31, 2020, was £4m.

Des Walker, father of Martyn and James’ grandfather, began the company in 1974 when he found himself unemployed with just a drawing board and box of pencils at his disposal.

Using these tools Des designed and procured the manufacture of spare parts for wire manufacturing machines which he sold both nationally and internationally.

As time progressed, Des bought his own machines and employed people to manufacture the same parts rather than putting them into the hands of somebody else.

As demand for spares reduced, Des found other work that would complement what he was already doing, ranging from pie moulds to beer pumps.

Meanwhile his son, Martyn, was serving an engineering apprenticeship at Hamworthy Engineering.

He eventually became a buyer of machined parts and other commodities.

On February 1, 1980, Martyn left Hamworthy Engineering to join Des at Walker Engineering.

Operating from a small facility in Dawkins Road, Hamworthy, his job was to help grow the business into a major supplier of machined parts and assemblies.

Employing top-class engineers along the way enabled the company to develop more in the general direction of aerospace and defence work.

In 1993 Walker Engineering was sold to The Fairmead Group.

Shortly afterwards Des, and his wife Ethel, retired from the business, but Martyn continued in the role of Operations Director.

A year later Walker Engineering merged with Aircraft Engineering Components of Byfleet to become Walker AEC.

The focus was mainly on throttle box assemblies for business jets for an American customer.

In 2002, Vicky van Hotson – now Vicky Walker, pictured right – who had worked for Grant Thornton and Barclays, joined the business as Finance Director.

She helped Martyn to carry out a successful management buyout, bringing the company into privately ownership.

During this period, Martyn’s son, James, was learning his trade as an apprentice grinder at a local sub-contractor.

He eventually joined Walker AEC in 2005 as a grinder before moving into a production control role and then operations management.

In 2013, another son, Jack, left school to become an apprentice at a Bournemouth-based aerospace company.

However things did not work out for him and he left the industry for 18 months before joining Walker AEC to finish his apprenticeship and eventually become a production controller.

James, Amie, Martyn and Jack Walker.

Three years ago Martyn’s daughter, Amie, joined the company as a commercial and finance apprentice and, at a very early stage, was able to complete VAT returns and produce management accounts.

In January this year Walker AEC – which has the tagline ‘Making Things Happen’ – acquired further premises to house its grinding section.

The company now occupies five premises in Dawkins Road.

Martyn said: “So here we are today.

“Des Walker is approaching his 95^th birthday and 2020 has been one of the toughest years on record.

“But with the hard work and determination of not just the family members but every last employee at Walker AEC, we are set up and structured to overcome adversity as we go into the next decade and chapter here at Walker AEC.

“Yes it’s time for change and James will lead the business into a new era.

“As for me, well after 41 years, it’s time to reduce my daily involvement but I’ll still own the business and become company Chairman.

“This year has been tough for everybody, but hopefully 2021 will be the start of the road back to normality.

“While Walker AEC believe that this journey could take several years to complete, the company is well set up following high investment in both its facilities and management team to do what it takes to be the preferred partner to all of its customers.”