Tuesday, 12 Nov 2013 09:39 GMT

Crash leads to sign of the times

When a truck smashed into an ornate shop sign outside Botham's of Whitby, it looked like the end of a famous piece of street signage

The traditional bakery has been trading since 1865, with its decorative iron frame, containing a hand painted sign for its fresh food and restaurant, a feature of Skinner Street in the North Yorkshire fishing port.

Fortunately, the metal frame was straightened out, but the sign was beyond repair. Enter Vinyl Signs of Whitby and its managing director Robert Lamerton, who painted the original. Lamerton prescribed a replacement panel in synthetic weather-resistant materials, and with his eye for typography, design, and colour, created an eye-catching replacement using Metamark M7 vinyl.

I learned signwriting in the traditional sense and it has given me an appreciation for lettering and layout that works well in today’s modern market too. It’s good to see Bothams’ sign restored to its position above the shop”

Bothams now has its sign back and looking its traditional best. Lamerton says: “I learned signwriting in the traditional sense and it has given me an appreciation for lettering and layout that works well in today’s modern market too. It’s good to see Bothams’ sign restored to its position above the shop. We’re ready to oblige again if needed.”

Robert’s father and son company Vinyl Signs of Whitby grew out of a traditional brush sign business and now gives a full sign service including lettering for vehicles, signboards, shop fascias, and even banners. In 2004 the firm was highly rated in the prestige British Sign Industry Awards.