| 1948 |
Aubrey Cecil Beck left
his employment as a bus driver and started painting
with cousin Tom Guest. |
| 1950 |
From his Sunninghill
home, Aubrey started to work on his own and formally
registered AC Beck Contracts. |
| 1961 |
Aubrey graduated from
domestic work to commercial. One of the first commercial
jobs, the Old Windsor Hospital, was a big project
and son John started to work for Aubrey. As a fledgling,
yet astute businessman, John saw an opportunity
to grow the business. The family and business moved
to 3 Bosworth Gardens, Woodley and later that year
the firm moved to the first dedicated base, a rented
office on London Road, Reading. |
| 1962 |
John’s wife Margaret
began to work for AC Beck, paying wages and providing
general office support, having worked at the TSB
Bank in Bracknell she brought useful skills to the
table. Eddie Clark joined the team followed by Ernie
Longhurst. Taking on directly employed personnel
was a major step for the firm. |
| 1963 |
The first sub contractors
were employed. |
| 1974 |
Aubrey Cecil, born in
1909 retired at 65 years. |
| 1977 |
Beck House in Binfield,
Amen Corner became the HQ. |
| 1978 |
AC Beck became a limited
company. |
| 1979 |
Steve joined the company
age 22years. Brothers Jonathan and Robin also became
involved. As teenagers all three had worked for
the firm in their school holidays. |
| 1985 |
Amy, the first Beck
grandchild is born and is presented with a paintbrush
by John! |
| 1988 |
Saw the firm move to
Sandford Manor |
| 1989 |
Business expansion demanded
a further move to the current base at the Metro
Centre near Wokingham. |
| 1992 |
John is made a Freeman
of the City of London, in the same year he became
a member of the Painters and Stainers Livery Company
and is made President of the Painting and Decorating
Federation. |
| 1995 |
The strategic decision
is taken to work with fewer national contractors
and more with architects, quantity surveyors and
client companies. |
| 1996 |
John retires age 60.
His decision was sudden, but he said “it was
the right time, Robin and Steve work well together
and I continue to take a keen interest in the business
and make a contribution. We are still a family firm
and one of the biggest painting and contracting
firms in the south east”. With this clarity
of vision and a business plan based on growth and
expansion, the company continues to progress and
thrive. |
| 2003 |
50 years in business.
A landmark.
Purchased Fields of Reading Ltd. - A major name
in painting and decorating to add to the the AC
Beck portfolio. |
| |
Click here
to see read about AC Beck and Son |
