We have today announced that our longest serving member of staff, Peter Hargreaves, is to retire from the firm after no less than 42 years, but will remain in touch for the foreseeable future as a part time consultant.

Having joined us in 1976, Peter has devoted most of his professional life to Smith Cooper. Qualifying as an AAT Accountant in Birmingham, Peter then relocated to Derbyshire, where he has worked in various sectors as a general manager at our Ashbourne office, providing tax, account and advisory services to his clients.

In light of the change in his role, Peter comments “In 4 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. I’m glad that I will still be able to assist clients in my role as a consultant, whilst taking a step back and embarking on the next chapter in my life.”

Alongside his commitment to Smith Cooper, Peter is also a green fingered gardener, having spent over 40 years cultivating his garden in Barton-under-Needwood alongside wife Margaret. Together they have nurtured it into a marvel famous in its own right.

Attracting droves of visitors, and even featuring on Gardeners World, Peter and his wife Margaret 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 based in our Ashbourne office comments “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.”

In light of the change to his role, Peter plans to spend more doing more of the things he loves – relaxing in his garden, singing with the Lichfield chorus and exploring more of the National Trust.