Family-owned Yorkshire timber importer, Duffield Timber, has marked its 60th anniversary in style.

As well as unveiling a complete refurbishment of its timber showroom, alongside other investment, the team and their families have celebrated 60 years of business with a race day at Ripon Racecourse.

The business was founded in 1957 by Robert Duffield, and through three generations, has grown to become a leading player in the U.K. timber industry. In addition to its own mill facilities, the business serves both trade and the public with an array of specialist hardwood timber.

Duffield started out as a small wood yard on the bank of the River Ure in Ripon, selling fencing, posts and rails. Now celebrating its diamond anniversary year, Duffield employs over 40 members of staff at its state-of-the-art 7-acre site in the village of Melmerby, near Ripon.

Earlier this year, Duffield’s re-investment programme saw the merchant complete a £1 million renovation of its sawmill facility. In addition, only last year, the timber importer unveiled its Joinery & Woodworking Centre - the largest of its kind in the U.K. The latest work involves a showroom refurbishment, as well as a new Cladding and Decking Centre.

The refurbished showroom contains an increased range of flooring, doors, hardwood samples as well as to-scale oak structures. Inside the new Cladding and Decking Centre, customers can find various profiles and species of wood; these include Oak, Western Red Cedar, Larch, ThermoWood, Balau, Iroko and more.

Howard Duffield, Managing Director of Duffield Timber, said: “I’d like to say a massive thank you to all our staff and customers - past and present - for their commitment through an incredible 60 years. Being a family-owned company only makes this milestone even more momentous - the race day was the perfect way to celebrate.”