The world’s oldest removals and storage company, The Shore Porters’ Society, has taken on two new partners as it seeks to continue its growth in the industry.
David McPherson and Richard Henderson have taken on management roles in the Aberdeen-based company which celebrates its milestone 521st birthday this year.”
They bring the benefit of decades of industry experience with them to the new positions. David has spent almost 30 years in the removals industry with Shore Porters and heads up the operations team whilst Richard, who previously spent 10 years with the company, returns as the office manager.
Richard said: “This is a fantastic challenge and I am relishing the opportunity of keeping Shore Porters at the forefront of the removals sector.  There is no doubt that the past 10 years have been difficult in the property market, however we continue to have an enviable removals reputation locally, national and internationally among domestic clients and businesses across all sectors.
“Included among the clients we work regularly with are leading large auction houses, galleries and private estates across the rest of the UK and on a global basis.”
David, one of the longest serving of working Shore Porters partners, says he is delighted the company has reached such a significant milestone.
“To reach 521 years in business is an incredible achievement and all the staff are very proud to be part of the company as it reaches this fantastic anniversary. It’s a great opportunity for us to take stock of the valuable contribution Shore Porters has made to the local area, while working away at the heart of the community. We look forward to a bright and prosperous future and hopefully another 500 plus years of successfully moving goods across the world.”
In addition to setting up a new management team to take it into the future, Shore Porters has also launched a new website.
Established in 1498 – the same year that Christopher Columbus first landed on the South American continent – the organisation has witnessed dramatic changes in the world and has evolved considerably itself over the past five centuries.
From its early days as a local removal company it is now an internationally renowned firm, operating globally with a strong network of agents in countries across of the world.
When the Society was formed, wheeled vehicles had yet to be introduced and the main tool for transporting goods – the sling lift – involved placing items on to a pole carried on men’s shoulders.
Things picked up for the staff at Shore Porters when horse-drawn furniture vans were introduced. This allowed the Society to cover longer distances and undertake more work and the company’s large, brightly painted vehicles were a common sight on the roads heading to Banchory, Stonehaven and Ellon and other towns and villages across the North-east of Scotland.
The Society has consistently led the way in introducing mechanical and technological innovations to the North of Scotland. It has the distinction of owning Aberdeen’s first motorised lorry with pneumatic tyres and, in 1881, was one of the first local organisations to install an office telephone.
Through the ages, Shore Porters employees played a key role in the local community – acting as policemen and firemen, and officiating at funerals, in addition to carrying out their daily duties.
For further information about The Shore Porters Society, please call (01224) 569 569, or visit www.shoreporters.com

• The Shore Porters’ Society has offices in Aberdeen and Richmond-Upon-Thames
• The company has 60 employees
• The Shore Porters’ Society has more than 500 years’ experience, dealing with local, national and international moves in a variety of sectors including domestic, commercial, antiques, fine art and storage
• Services in the UK and internationally are wide-ranging, covering everything from a part-load service with pick up and delivery for everything for a single box to entire removals
• The Shore Porters’ Society is older than the Royal Mail (1516) and both the Cambridge (1534) and Oxford (1586) university presses
• It is more than 200 years older than Twinings (1706), Fortnum & Mason (1707) and Sotheby’s (1744)