Staff Photographer: Steve Taylor
Having now been with the magazine since 2003, Steve is regarded by his collegues as possessing two fundamental skills; taking cracking photos and sourcing free biscuits.
After complaining long and hard about having to use an ancient Honda Accord as his work vehicle, a couple of years ago Steve was awarded a Nissan Terrano van. Although his moaning stopped, we suspect he's still not entirely happy, as like too many avid off-roaders Steve is obsessed with Land Rovers. Although he talks constantly about his Series II hybrid, we've never seen him drive this vehicle as it seems to have been in the process of being rebuilt for the past decade. Nevetheless, as can be seen from the above image, Steve is still not adverse to immersing himself in some proper mud-plugging action.
Art Editor: Liane Bone
Charged with the arduous monthly task of turning the editorial team's barely legible scribbles into something presentable, Liane is forced to work very hard for her money. Pictured here reluctantly modelling the magazine's polo shirt, as a result of this photoshoot she is regularly recognised and accosted by muddy boys at the British Indoor 4x4 Show; an experience she finds understandably unpleasant.
Editor: Alan Kidd
Rarely spotted in the TOR office, Alan appears to spend the majority of his working life compiling each month’s Roadbook, a task that largely seems to involve driving around the most scenic parts of rural Britain while running up a huge expenses bill. As such his unopened emails averagely number 300, his post tray has its own overspill area and his answer machine long ago committed Harry Carry, making him the most difficult person to track down since the McCartney’s marriage guidance counsellor.
A long career working on a number of 4x4 related magazines has made Alan an utter off-road know-it-all and a rather accomplished driver too. Always fond of showing off his abilities, his gung-ho antics have quickly reduced the company’s once pristine white Nissan Patrol to a filthy, barely driveable wreck.
Deputy Editor: Bobby Cowling
When Bobby joined TOR three years ago he was immediately initiated by being handed a set of keys to a Jeep Cherokee and sent off to a snowy Welsh hillside, returning three days later suffering from mild hypothermia and looking very frightened indeed. Considering himself to be something of a musician, Bobby appears to believe he’s living in the 1960s and needs no excuse to start boring colleagues about how great Bob Dylan and The Beatles were.
Although he has benefited from some of the best off-road training in the country, a complete lack of natural talent means he is still something of a liability when it comes to non-tarmac driving. However, this doesn’t dissuade him from spending the entire working week on the phone to 4x4 manufacturers desperately trying to persuade them to lend him a vehicle for the weekend.
Assistant Editor: Emily Gravenor
Emily joined TOR in August 2007 and quickly become the team’s most popular member as a consequence of her willingness to do far more work than anyone else. Almost entirely responsible for the magazine’s brilliant new This Month section, she has the unenviable task of actually communicating with other human beings, while simultaneously trying to organise her feckless colleagues.
Unfortunately, Emily’s off-roading career didn’t quite get off to such an auspicious start, when only a few weeks into the job she managed to smash up photographer Steve Taylor’s 4x4 van (click here for the full story). Thankfully her driving skills have improved immeasurably since then, partly as a result of her recent participation in the Mac 4x4 challenge, though Steve still has a tendency to look a little nervous whenever she’s behind the wheel.
