A family business in Northallerton has celebrated its 60th year with the help of Rishi Sunak.
Sashless Windows was established in the town by Walter Chown and his son, Redvers, in 1965.
Since then it has grown into one of Northallerton’s bigger private employers making timber windows for customers across the UK.
Mr Sunak, MP for Richmond and Northallerton, visited the company’s factory on the Standard Way Industrial Estate, to meet the staff and directors, including the grandsons of Mr Chown who now help run the company.
During his visit Mr Sunak met Redvers, now in his 90s, and recently-retired employee Paul Hannant who completed more than 50 years’ service with the company after starting as a 15-year-old apprentice.
He also toured the factory and tried his hand at glazing some of the company’s bespoke windows.
Mr Sunak said it was right that the company was marking the anniversary.
“Companies like Sashless, run by families totally invested in the enterprise like the Chowns, are the backbone of our local economy and make a massive contribution to the UK economy as a whole,” he said.
“They have steadily grown the business over the decades, weathering storms and adapting all the time to ensure that they meet the needs of an ever-changing market.”
He added: “Their commitment to and investment in their staff, as evidenced by the number of long-serving employees, is commendable.”
Originally, Sashless Windows made “sashless” windows. In the early 1960s, during a business trip to Canada, Walter Chown noticed a primitive form of double glazing and saw an opportunity to bring the idea to Britain — years before the double-glazed sealed unit became common.
From that idea, the Sashless Window Company was born. Today, it manufactures high quality double-glazed timber windows, supplying both high-end property developers and the social housing sector.
Company director and grandson of the company founder Alastair Chown said the family, directors and staff had been delighted to welcome Mr Sunak to the business.
He said: “It was great to have our 60th year marked by the visit of Rishi Sunak. Our staff thoroughly enjoyed the visit, and we were impressed with the level of interest Rishi showed both in our production facility and, importantly, in the staff themselves. He was keen to chat to as many staff members as possible.”
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