Alan signs off after nearly 40 years (From Gazette & Herald)

Alan signs off after nearly 40 years

A WELL-KNOWN Malton sign writer is to put away his tools, after nearly 40 years in the business.

Alan Jones, 64, will hold a final sale at his shop Signs - Malton, on May 20 before embarking on a well-earned retirement. He started his business in 1966 with a stall at the Malton Agricultural Show, before moving to permanent premises. During his time in the business, he worked on a project for the 1974 film, All Creatures Great And Small, filmed in and around Malton, and painted a brougham carriage for Castle Howard.

He has also done extensive work for Ryedale Folk Museum at Hutton-le-Hole.

Mr Jones said he started sign-writing while travelling around farms as part of his job spreading lime on fields in the 1960s. He said: "While travelling round the farms, I noticed that I had trouble finding them - there weren't any signs.

"So I started making them when we weren't busy, and it just snowballed."

Updated: 12:34 Tuesday, May 04, 2004