FOLLOWING the recent sad announcement that one of York’s oldest shops, Whitby Oliver Furniture, is to close down, reader Geoff Dickson sent us these wonderful photos.

The news of the closure reminded Mr Dickson – a 74-year-old retired former Rowntree buyer, who is a collector of old transport photos – that the company used to operate at least one bus chassis, which had been re-modelled as a furniture van.

And here, in these photos, is the evidence.

The single deck bus, registration CWT 868, was new in 1938, but was withdrawn from service as a bus in 1956.

“It had its body removed and a furniture van body was built on the chassis,” wrote Mr Dickson, who lives off Hull Road.

“I attach three photos – one as a bus and one as a furniture van with Whitby Oliver, together with a rear view.

“Please note the registration number is the same on each photo – CWT 868.”

So it is. We note also the wonderful slogan emblazoned across the side of the Whitby Oliver van: “Across the street, or across the world”.

Readers of The Press will know thankfully that the Oliver name has not disappeared entirely.

Britannia Oliver, the removal arm of the business, which still uses the “Across the street or across the world” slogan, is very much still in operation.