International Cargo Handling & Co-ordination Association

International Safety Panel Briefing Pamphlet No 16
Checkmate Avon
Checkmate Avon consists of two specialist manufacturing divisions in the United
Kingdom. Textile lifting products based at Sheerness in Kent and Avon Fabrications
based at Melksham in Wiltshire, who specialise in the design, development and
production of specialist rubber fabrications, predominantly for the marine industry
and used on high speed craft throughout the world. The company holds ISO 9002
certification, in addition to Type approvals on its products from a number of
Classification Societies.
Paul Auston
Paul’s early career was at sea and when he came ashore took a position with a rope
manufacturing company based in Northern Ireland. This led to a lifelong fascination
with the use of synthetic fibres and their development into lifting materials. He set up
the company Checkmate of which he is now Chairman.
Acknowledgements
The author is indebted to a number of people throughout the world who have cooperated
in the production of this briefing pamphlet: Richard Day, John Alexander,
Mike McKie, Rolf Stennes, Geoffrey Sowter, John Nicholls and Brian Dunn who
allowed me the use of his personal papers.
Finally, thank you to all whom, by virtue of my redundant memory cells, I have
forgotten to mention and without whose help and forbearance this publication would
not have been possible. For the record all the errors and mistakes are of my own
making.
Paul Auston
© ICHCA International Limited