Publisher's Synopsis
In 1926, Alf Sutton joined his mother's coal bagging business after starting life at the coal face, but this ended after an altercation with the foreman. Alf Sutton was not afraid of work and soon had bought out his brothers and moved into haulage. He outgrew his horse & cart and acquired his first commercial vehicle and started to work for the budding chemical, glass and paper business that was expanding rapidly in the North West. His reputation for hardness was countered by his fairness, and the company developed until nationalised in 1948.By 1954, supported by Pilkington Glass, Alf Sutton purchased a fleet from BRS and started Sutton & Son (St. Helens) Ltd. His expansion was rapid as he applied for and won new licences, mainly on the back of competitive rates which he was able to sustain due to his initiatives in vehicle and load design. His customer service was second to none, and by the time he died the company had grown to being one of the largest family owned haulage companies. His relationship with his son resulted in a change in management style, and this eventually led to a decline in the group's fortunes. However, this has now been put behind them, and the company is moving forward again with one of the main emphasis on International trade.
