Carlton Littleford is clearly up for a challenge.
The 55-year-old owner of security systems firm Carlton Alarms is set to tackle a gruelling assault course that would test any elite athlete when he takes part in the aptly-named Tough Mudder challenge to raise funds for charity Help for Heroes.
He’s part of a team that will tackle a 12-mile course consisting mainly of mud, freezing water, tunnels, high walls – oh, and electrified obstacles – in the grounds of Broughton Hall, near Skipton this August.
Carlton, who has previously tackled the Three Peaks Challenge, said: “I was good at cross-country at school and I have been going to the gym for 16 years. I go to the gym at Lockwood Park every day Monday to Friday. I’m generally there for about 6.30am. I also go running and cycling. At the moment, we’re all in training for the obstacle course!”
Carlton turned to sport to reduce work-related stress.
“I used to get really bad headaches,” he says. “I went to the doctor and he asked if I ever got them when I was on holiday. I said ‘no’. It was all down to stress. I was working seven days a week and five nights a week on the business at the time. You can’t do that for ever. I started going to the gym and I have never had a headache like that since.”
Carlton still works hard at the business he started after training as an electician. His company, based at Newsome Road South, Berry Brow, designs, fits and maintains burglar alarms, security lighting, CCTV and fire alarms at premises ranging from houses, schools and churches to offices and factories.
Carlton was born in Slaithwaite but lived for four or five years in Rutland before his parents returned to Huddersfield and settled in Linthaite in 1967, where he spent most of his formative years.
He attended Linthwaite Church School and Colne Valley High School where he learned to play the drums and enjoyed maths and physics, but admits to not being academically-minded. “I was a typical lazy boy,” he says. “I did just enough to get by. Now I do everything I can to the best of my ability!”
Carlton took a three-year electrical apprenticeship with NG Bailey in Leeds. “When I got my qualifications and passed my exams I felt I had really achieved something,” he recalls.
Employment also broadened his horizons. Carlton worked for two years at the Sullom Voe oil terminalsin the Shetlands.
“It was tough work because we had four weeks on and one week at home,” he says. “It was always windy – bit like Marsden Moor by the sea!”
Later, Carlton worked as an electrician for a Penistone firm which crushed coal, coke and other materials into powder – work which was definitely not to his liking.
“At that time on TV there was a TV programme called Enterprise, which was a business competition,” says Carlton. “The first winner was South Yorkshire Double Glazing and Harold WIlson presented the award.
“I had taken some additional courses, including electronics. About 30 years ago my home at Netherton was burgled and I fitted a burglar alarm system. I really enjoyed doing that and other people started asking me to fit one for them – so I packed in my job and set up in business, working from my bedroom at home.”
Carlton Alarms enjoyed steady growth, moving to Armitage Bridge and now based at Berry brow where it has been for the past 15 years.
The firm, which has gold quality status with the National Security Inspectorate and is quality-assured to ISO9001 and ISO9008, employs eight people. Carlton deals with most of the sale calls while his team of engineers are out installing, maintaining and repairing systems and two employees work in the office.
The company has customers as far afield as in Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester, but mainly operates in the Huddersfield area.
Carlton has seen big changes in the industry since he set up the business.
“When I started, we were fitting panels where you turned the alarm system on and off with a key,” he says.
“The panels developed into key pads where you turned the system on and off by keying in a code. Now there are systems you can turn on and off with a fob or via a mobile app.”
The company hs fitted alarm systems in unusual places, including a train carriage at Huddersfield railway station and on a barge. Every system is tailored to customer requirements.
Carlton’s strategy for the business now is to provide a “one-stop shop” for security systems – most recently moving into the fire alarms market.
Away from work, Carlton retains his interest in music. He says: “I’m principal percussionist with Huddersfield Wind Band. That’s how I put it., anyway What it means is I’m the only drummer! I’ve played with the band for almost 20 years and it is growing. There are almost 40 in the band now. We will be playing in Greenhead Park in a few weeks’ time and we do a Christmas concert at Huddersfield Town Hall.
“I was taught percussion by a peripatetic teacher at school and I just kept it going.”
Other interests include caravannnig. “I like the outdoor life,” says Carlton. “I like walking and cycling. I’m trying to see as much as I can of England – going to Cornwall and Oxford last year to see places with some history and culture.”
Carlton owns a Range Rover and a Porsche – “old ones” as he’s quick to point out. He’s also ridden motorcycles for 40 years and has five machines, including a touring bike which has taken him to Scandinavia and Europe.
And he adds: “My ambition is ti retire and have seven bikes – one for each day of the week!”
But that won’t be for some time yet. Carlton’s still enjoying work.
“The best thing is going to see people,” he says. “I have met some amazing people.
“I still see customers from when I started out and they remember the fact that I always took my slippers with me to change into when I went into their houses and that I vacuumed up afterwards.
“Health and safety means the engineers have to wear safety boots, but rule number one for my team is to put plastic covers over their boots when they’re indoors and clear up when they’ve finished. It’s just good practice.”
Role: Owner
Age: 55
Holidays: I have travelled to Europe and Scandinavia but now enjoy caravanning around England
First job: Working on the packing line at Thornton & Ross in Linthwaite
Car: I have a 10-year-old Range Rover and a 14-year-old Porsche – and five motorcycles!
Best thing about the job? Meeting different people. I have met some amazing people. I still see people who were customers when I first started out
Worst thing about the job? Having had to lay people off when times were hard – and as far as the business goes, paying the taxman!
Business tip: If you like what you are doing and prepared to work hard, you can work for yourself. And do it sooner rather than later.
Work: Designing, installing and maintaining security systems, fire alarms and CCTV
Site: Newsome Road South, Berry Brow
Phone: 01484 665526
Email: carlton@carlton-alarms.co.uk
