A YORK travel agency is celebrating a 40-year journey in the holiday industry.

The voyage has also been a personal one for Eric Walton, who as a 21-year-old was the first manager of Acomb Travel when it opened in January 1977.

Mr Walton took over the agency in 1992 and he and his wife, Samantha, still run the business as partners.

The travel agency has built up a fine reputation within the local community and in April of last year it was recognised as one of the Top 50 travel agents in the UK by the Travel Trade Gazette.

The main anniversary celebrations will take place on “Ruby Tuesday” on January 24, when Mr Walton and his team will welcome customers and members of the local community to join them for some cake.

Any customers who make a booking with the agency on the day are due to receive a bottle of “bubbly” and there will also be a prize draw.

The Acomb sales team is made up of three members of staff. Avril Barrett, Tracey Hodgson and the newest member of the team, Suzi Anderson, who started in May last year. Mrs Walton looks after all the marketing activity..

Mr Walton said: “A good business is based on the people who work within that business and I am so lucky to have such a great team working for Acomb Travel

“Success is built upon success and we hope to be serving the local community for many years to come.

“We are familiar and friendly faces, reliable people who always give honest advice.”

He started in the travel business aged only 17, working in Leeds before moving to Acomb Travel.

Mr Walton said the business provided both package-type breaks with major operators and put together tailormade travel itineraries for people.

“One of the most interesting was for a retired gentleman who wanted to do a round-the-world ticket over a period of four months. The destinations he took in were incredible, including going across the South Pacific islands to South America, and then into North America.”