Althams Travel - Service That Counts Photographs


Althams Travel Service Ltd


Information


AFTER a successful 100-year history Althams is now gearing up to make sure it builds upon the strong position it holds within the travel market.


Allhams reputation has been built on


offering a reliable, efficient and friendly service to the customers the firm values


so highly The present directors are chairman


Peter S. Kay. who is a great-grandson of Abraham Altham. Throughout his working life Mr Kay was employed in the bewing industry,


first of all at the Massey Burnley Brewery where prior to the take-over by Bass'in 1967. he was head brewer and deputy chairman. After the take-over, he became tied trade director for Bass North West, until retiring in 1984. Mr Kay joined the Althams board in


September 1987, and was appointed chairman in December 1987. Managing Director Eddie Starkie was


educated at Burnley Grammar School and started work at Althams in December 1956 as a junior clerk at the company s head office in Market Street Burnley. He worked in the booking office in Market Street, where Alan Mitchell was manager from 1958 until 1962. and then returned to head office, which had by then moved to the present offices at Riverside. Netherwood Road. Burnley, following the compulsory purchase of the Market Street premises by the local authority.


From head ottice he worked as relief


manager for the company's travel branches from 1962 until 1965. when he was appointed inclusive tours manager for Althams own package holiday programme, which included destinations such as European cities, the Channel Islands and the Isle ot


Man. In 1970 he was appointed company


travel manager, and appointed assistant general manager in 1976. general manager in 1980 and Managing Director in June 1983-


In addition to his work at Althams. Mr


Starkie was also a part-time youth leader for the local education authority at Sandygate Youth Club in Trafalgar Street in Burnley from 1960 to 1977.


Director David Knagg was educated


at Burnley Grammar School and is now senior partner at Smith & Smith Solicitors in Burnley, joining the Althams board in December 1987. Also six great-grandchildren ot


Abraham Altham are still major shareholders of the company The two longest serving employees


are Derek Townend, the company s senior manager, based at the St James's Street branch in Burnley, who pined the company 39 years ago in


1955. and Mr Slarkie. who |0tned in 1956


The travel industry has changed tremendously during the last 35 to 40 years. In the early days there were not many charter operators, as most of the holidays were by air across the English Channel and then by rail or coach, or centred on the Belgian coast at Ostend


and Blankenberge. The popular type ot travel was by


steamship, where the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth crossed the Atlantic to New York, and Canadian Pacific sailed to Canada. Many wealthy clients trav­ elled the world by ship and cruising was popular with the upper classes. During the local holidays British Rail


used to operate numerous trains from Burnley Central and Burnley Barracks Stations to the Lancashire Coast and to the South and West of England, and from Manchester Road Station to the North Coast of Yorkshire. On these trains the seats were regulated and in those days Althams probably used to sell more tickets than the railway stations did. with queues forming the week before, when the regulation tickets arrived from British Rail. In the mid 1950s Austria, Switzerland


and France were the popular holiday destinations, now it's the Balearic and Greek Islands, with Turkey being one of the more recent additions. More and more people are travelling to the Caribbean and other world-wide


destinations. During the past five or six years, the


retail chains of the ma|or tour operators have expanded rapidly in the North of England, and indeed nationwide, making the industry tar more competitive and “ cut-throat . Over the last couple of years the


major chains have continued to increase their branches, while many independents have ceased trading, and


it is Mr Starkie's view that, whilst the public may benefit in the short term from the price war. once the large retail chains, which are owned by the ma|or tour operators, become dominant in this industry, then the public will


probably suffer. Mr Starkie believes that as tour


operators are publishing new brochures


far earlier than ever, they may well have made a mistake for 1995. lor whilst the bookings during the first week or two were very buoyant, the market soon went dormant, and this could well bring a bit of common sense with the tour operators launching their summer products somewhat later in


'Tn a n ever-changing market Althams


is always ready to adapt, to ensure that the company give the best possible standard ot service to its customers


booking at one of the 31 branches. The company, which has retained its


base m Burnley for 120 years now has come along way since the first trip organised to Blackpool by Abraham Altham, and will continue to serve the


public tor many years to come. Ciost10


ALTHAMS — 1994 — 31 Branches


Accrington Ashton Batley


Blackburn Bolton


Burnley Bury


Chorley Clitheroe Colne


Darvven Denton


Dewsbury


Farnworth Halifax


Horsforth Huddersfield Keighley


Littleborough Morley Nelson Otley Pudsey


Ramsbottom Rawtenstall Sale


ALTHAMS 1994:Board members^ (left Mr Eddie Starkie, with chairman Mr Peter Kay and tettow


David Knagg


Scunthorpe Skipton Todmorden Wakefield Yeadon


.V > Wo HO n lone wiry to mute you hiippy UBgPOOL


chS GTON £-0 ^ RJshton „_6r£ $ m


•IABUCKBURn A B M . a l t r a 'i? ; AB


Burnley Central Library


Bennett's History o f Burnley


Design


Catherine S lingo Advertising


Maureen Whittaker


— Decorator—


is pleased to be associated with ALTHAMS


Best Wishes on 100 years


No wonder, more and more holidaymakers are turning to Airtours


(or their holiday.


I Because, year afler year, we believe I no other company goes further to I make their holidaymakers happy. I Not only where value for money is I concerned, but also in the great | choice we continually look to


I provide. I We now offer over 30 0 world wide


resorts. Flying from 19 U.K. departure points


I to 65 separate overseas airports. All in all, over 2.5 million holidays,


I to 30 countries around the world. 1 And if that wasn't enough, Airtours I have now gone overboard on value I with incredibly low prices for I Mediterranean Cruises. Plus Airtours I Australia' offers the most affordable I winter holidays ever, to the land 1 down-under. 1 Trust Airtours to go thal little bit I further.


'N© f jS a tSEk S a r " '


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