Tribute to ‘Hull’s last signwriter’
SIGNS YOU WILL SEE OVER HULL AND BEYOND THAT WERE THE HANDIWORK OF JUST ONE SKILLED MAN
ASPECIAL event is being held in Hull this week to honour the “city’s last signwriter”. Alan Stutt (Stutty) who sadly died of cancer recently at the age of 70, made his mark all over Hull and beyond with his traditional skills as a signwriter and gilder. His handiwork can be seen everywhere, from shop and pub signs to lorry livery, and from carousel horses to ice cream carts.
Friend of 35 years Shaun Arnold said: “I want every single person in this town to know he has gone. Alan was my best pal, he was such a character.
“I think I feel even more proud now of all the work he has done all over Hull. I think I used to take that for granted when he was still here.
“I’ve got his signwriting equipment, which is basically his tin of special brushes. I got the lecture when he became poorly about looking after them properly.”
Stutty’s Memorial Night was held last night at The Clarendon – just one of many Hull pubs where Alan
put his signwriting talents to good use – in Londesborough Street, Hull. The event featured live music with Daz and guests and was billed as a chance to “come and raise a glass and remember Alan Stutt”.
People were asked to provide any pictures of Alan, or his signwriting, for a slideshow that ran throughout the evening - and the tribute was also a fundraiser in Alan’s memory. Justgiving pages have been set up to support Dove House Hospice, where Alan sadly passed away on April 9, and to help five-year-old Jack Gyde have lifesaving cancer treatment.
Shaun said before the event: “I
hope the pub has rubber walls because I think it’s going to need them with all the people who will be there. Anyone who owns a business that Alan has worked for will say 50 to 60 per cent of their work has come their way because of him doing his job properly and creating that special identity for them – not that he didn’t like the odd practical joke and could make the odd
spelling mistake!
“There are loads of stories out there. Alan had this loud, infectious laugh. It was a one-off and everyone took the mickey out of it.”
Alan, was brought up by his parents in Murrayfield Road, in west Hull - his father was also a signwriter. Shaun said: “When Alan was still at school, at weekends, he would go out with his dad to learn the trade.
“His brother, Keith, who has also sadly passed away, was a graphic designer. The whole family were very, very arty.”
Shaun said: “Alan did lots of work at such as Hepworth Arcade – the signwriting at Dinsdale’s was originally done by his dad and Alan was called back a few years ago to refresh it. He also worked on Beasley’s in the arcade.
“Every grass track banger racing car that has ever left Hull will have been done by Alan. Every year when Hull Fair came back to Walton Street, there would be the showmen saying, ‘can you do this for us, Alan?’
“The skills he had were amazing, such as with painting narrowboats. Obviously you can sign-write on one side of the boat by sitting on the bank and doing it. Alan didn’t have to have the boat turned around to do the other side; he could lean over and work backwards and upside down.
“Two people were watching him do that, once, when he was Wakefield or Castleford way. It turned out it was Lorraine Chase and Eric Chittell, the Emmerdale actors, who were out jogging on the towpath and they stopped to watch.
“He did gold leaf work as well. It was another string to his bow. He was a very, very well-known man and the last of his breed in Hull.”