Elders Walker Glass Limited, Darlington, Co Durham

Specialist Glass Merchants and Glaziers in the North East

Elders Walker Glass Limited currently occupy premises in McNay Street Darlington, which are the original branch premises of Elders Walker & Company Limited.

Elders Walker & Company Limited originally established their glass and glazing business in Newcastle and Gateshead and operated several branches throughout the North East. They opened a Darlington branch in 1948, at that time occupying most of the eastern side of McNay Street. The company was taken over by Pilkington PLC in the late 1970's and was subsequently sold to the Polton Glass Group in 1998.

Peter Kelly started his career with the company in 1967 as apprentice glazier. Throughout his time with the business Peter has undertook a variety of positions including glazier, charge-hand glazier, foreman glazier and general foreman. Accordingly, in 1987 Peter was promoted to branch manager and subsequently undertook project managerial roles within the Pilkington organization at their Middlesbrough and Carlisle branches and also as Administration Manager at the Elders Window's division at Gateshead.

In 1992 Peter returned back to the Darlington branch as branch manager, continuing as manager following the take-over of the business in 1998 by the Polton Glass Group. In 2005 Peter approached the Polton Glass Group with an offer for the Darlington branch in it's entirety. Peter's bid was successful and the new company, Elders Walker Glass Limited, commenced trading on 1st June 2005, with Peter taking up the role of Managing Director.

As part of Peter's team, the inherited business employees include Dorothy Hansom, who has worked at the branch since 1968. Dorothy started her career with Elders Walker & Company Limited as an office junior, eventually working her way up to office supervisor. Dorothy assumed the position of Company Secretary for Elders Walker Glass Limited.

Peter's son Robert joined the company as a trainee glazier in 1988, whence it was under Pilkington ownership. Today Robert holds the position of business manager. The business also employs Dave (Wally) Walton, a glasscutter who also commenced working for Elders Walker & Company Limited, way back in 1968. These four employees have cumulatively attained almost 165 years experience within the glass industry and together form the nucleus of the team, which oversees the successful day to day running of the current operation.

The sales/administration department is supervised jointly by Peter's wife Lynn, Rob's wife Karen and Dorothy Hansom. Sarah Rickaby who joined the business just prior to the take-over is in charge of the accounts department.