OWNERS of a family firm which is celebrating its centenary have invented a new word to describe themselves - "decorologists". John A Holt (Decorators) Ltd of Newnham Street, Astley Bridge, Bolton was founded by master painter John Alfred Holt in Vernon Street, Bolton in 1899. His brother Wilfred helped to develop the business and Wilfred's nephew, Albert Todd, started as an apprentice in 1930 earning ten shillings (50p) per week.

After the 1939-45 war they went into partnership for a year before Albert bought the business.

He and his wife Alice built it up rapidly and it became a limited company in 1955.

Albert's son Stephen, who joined the firm as an apprentice in 1964, is now Managing Director and his wife Kathryn is Company Secretary.

They are planning some sort of celebration during the year, but for the moment they are promoting themselves as a business with a long and successful past - and a keen eye on the future.

"I decided we would be 'decorologists' for the centenary," Mrs Todd said today.

"There is no such word but it is different and eye-catching."

After all, she points out, decorators used to be known as "beautifiers."

The company moved into Newnham Street in 1967 after its previous home in Arkwright Street - it had been there since 1926 - was demolished to make way for re-development.

Albert Todd died in 1990, but Alice is still going strong at 83.

During their expansion of the business they took on bigger jobs such as churches, schools, factories and business premises., including the Market Hall and Victoria Hall, Bolton.

These days contracts are roughly 50 per cent commercial, 25 per cent private and 25 per cent industrial.

The company has particularly successful relationships with schools, colleges, universities and places of worship.

But a glance through the old ledgers still to hand gives a fascinating glimpse into the company's past.

In the 1920s, for instance, a craftsman was paid the equivalent of £2.50 for a 46 hour week (including Saturday morning) and the outside of a house could be painted for about £10.

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