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Selwyn's secret is probably you've never heard about him
publication date: Sep 24, 2011
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author/source: Alan Ewens
While the name Selwyn
Kendrick may not be instantly recognisable to some, chances are if you've ever
been in a situation that relied on the 4x4 skills of the rescue services, then
you owe a word of thanks to the Welshman.
Founder, owner and director
of Nationwide 4x4, 69 year-old Kendrick is, quite simply, the man the pros call
to learn all there is to know about driving off-road.
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Majesty's Coastguard and St John Ambulance are well aware of the need for the
latest professional off road capabilities.
At Kendrick's training centre in
Hay on Wye literally thousands of rescue personnel have honed their skills
under the watchful eye of one of the country's foremost off-road driving
experts (above).
"I think that's my greatest
and proudest achievement," he says from the eight miles of off-road track he
and his team have carved through dense woodland.
"Obviously it is a business
but to be able to pass on knowledge and skills to the emergency services and
potentially save lives makes me very proud."
Established in the mid 1990s and
specialising in 4x4 training, Nationwide 4x4 also offers technical training and
assessment on a range of machinery and equipment to cater for the different
requirements of the UK's land-based industries.
In addition to 4x4 vehicles, other
areas covered include handling vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs),
tractors and loaders, cranes, small plant 360s, dumpers, quad machines and
company cars.
It's all a far cry from
Kendrick's early career. But after 18 years as a military diplomatic driver and
almost 20 years at the helm of Nationwide 4x4, he believes the disciplines have
plenty in common.
"For some 40 years my career
has been behind the wheel in all sorts of situations. It's all about knowing
the vehicle and understanding weight and balance distribution," he says. "That
and common sense of course."
While Nationwide 4x4's no-nonsense
approach to the business may not appeal to the weekend warriors or the off-road
stag weekend brigade, it's the key component of the Kendrick experience.
This is no playground with
mud churning tyres and extravagant wheel spins. Using the rugged capabilities
of two Ford Rangers coupled with standard road tyres, Kendrick teaches his
students - many of whom are experienced off roaders in their own right - that
it's not all about brute force.
"We prefer to describe it a
teaching off-road ballet rather than the bull-in-china-shop approach with the
goal of improving the operators' understanding of how a 4x4 rescue vehicle
should work."
Among the thousands who have
benefited from the expertise learned on these LANTRA-approved courses is Darron
Burness, Operations Manager for the AA Operations Management Team.
"From floods to festivals, we
have to be able to handle every situation thrown at us," he says. "Four years
ago we came to Selwyn and were introduced to the Ford Ranger and its
capabilities. Working with him has been fantastic for the service and has taken
our operational capabilities to new levels."
© Image Anthony Cullen
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