Midlands firm Smith Cooper has announced the retirement of its longest serving member of staff, Peter Hargreaves, who is leaving after 42 years but will remain in touch for the foreseeable future as a part-time consultant
Having joined in 1976, Hargreaves has devoted most of his professional life to Smith Cooper. Qualifying as an AAT accountant in Birmingham, he then relocated to Derbyshire, where he has worked in various sectors as a general manager at the Ashbourne office, providing tax, account and advisory services to his clients.
Hargreaves said: ‘In four decades, I have seen many changes both within the company and within the accounting industry. Smith Cooper has been a great place to work, and I have been fortunate to have enjoyed a long career with such wonderful clients.’
Alongside his commitment to Smith Cooper, Hargreaves is also a green fingered gardener, having spent over 40 years cultivating his garden in Barton-under-Needwood alongside wife Margaret.
Attracting droves of visitors, and even featuring on Gardeners World, the pair have been opening their garden to the public for 26 years and have raised over £80,000 for charity in that time. In recent years they have been supporting Alzheimer’s Research Nottingham, having raised over £12,000 alone for the cause.
Bruce Montgomery, partner at Smith Cooper Ashbourne, said: ‘Peter’s commitment to the business has been exemplary, if sometimes unconventional. He has established a fabulously loyal client base throughout the 42 years he has spent with us. Outside of work, the dedication he has committed to charity is magnificent, and something that we all admire Peter for.’
Report by Pat Sweet
