About us - a brief history

Charles Edward Pittaway was born in 1889 and became the first apprentice of F.A Wells in 1905.

His deed of apprenticeship reveal some truly Victorian aspects, including a starting weekly wage of 25p, as well as a ban on frequenting tavern or ale houses and competing in unlawful games such as dice, cards or bowls. He would also need his masters licence to enter matrimony.

In 1914 he founded his own company at 277 Anlaby Road, Hull but in the same year entered service in the First World War rising to Regimental Sergeant Major in the 4th East Yorkshire Regiment and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

Late in 1918 he returned and re-commenced the company carrying out domestic decorating. He served as President of the Hull Branch of The National Federation of Master Painters twice.

James Pittaway joined his father in the business following the end of the Second World War and developed and expanded the commercial and industrial markets. Work was carried out in all the major department stores and banks, with a permanent presence at the Marfleet factory of J.H Fenner. His legacy was the development and later patent of the dry flake spray system, Ilumitex and the eventual foundation of Pittaway Special Coatings Ltd, which is still operating since its conception in the early 1970’s.

Melvyn Pittaway entered the company in the early 1960’s and eventually managed the painting and decorating business whilst James Pittaway concentrated on the expansion of Pittaway Special Coatings Ltd.

Additional production space became necessary and the companies moved premises to Flinton Street in 1983. With the advent of motorways and ease of travel, work was beginning to be carried out through out the UK with clients from as far a field as Glasgow to London, who were seeking the assurance of high quality work, whilst still operating cost effectively.

During the 1990’s Melvyn’s son Graeme joined the company following his degree at Leeds University. Graeme has taken a leading management role whilst Melvyn concentrated on Pittaway Special Coatings Ltd and the formation in 2000 of Pittaway Sempol Ltd, manufacturers of pva flake used in commercial walling and flooring systems.