I hope you have all wintered well. As we move away from covid restrictions, it does now feel that Spring is on the way and with it comes fresh growth and more freedom.

It is my turn to do the editorial and, given that I am retiring at the end of March, I was asked to put something together about my time at Dodds.


I qualified as a chartered accountant in 1979, aged 23, and worked for 2 years on large corporate clients but, being a country boy, all I really wanted to do was work with farmers.


When the opportunity arose, along with Bill Dodd and Alan McViety, we set up Dodd & Co which has just celebrated its 40 year anniversary. We initially worked from Bill's house in Chatsworth Square, followed by 2 years at Fisher Street, simultaneously opening an office on the Cornmarket in Penrith. In 1984, we moved our Carlisle operation to Broadacre House on Lowther Street and around the same time, opened a small office for the farmers at Rosehill. Bill left within 5 years to successfully assist one of our rapidly expanding clients get to the Stock Market.


Realising the benefits of being on an "out of town centre" work site, we closed the Broadacre House office in 1994 and moved all our Carlisle staff to Rosehill, a move which I am happy to say was received very well by both our clients and our workforce.


One of the things that probably set our firm apart, was that we saw many clients at their own premises where they were more comfortable to talk about their financial affairs in familiar surroundings. This was a new move for accountants and we found that we could more easily find out what our clients wanted, and our job was to put in a strategy to assist them in meeting their wishes.


Working with land-based clients has been an absolute pleasure, though often a challenge, and there have been plenty of highs and lows.


The introduction of milk quotas in 1984 was one such challenge, as was BSE soon after, and Foot and Mouth disease in 2001. Our job was to try and guide people through those difficult times, and do what we could to help. I am convinced that throughout my time at Dodds we have helped so many families achieve their goals and ambitions, and despite the challenges, I can think of more good times than bad times when I think about my career.


I have no doubt that there will be many opportunities and yes, some challenges in the future, but I am extremely proud that I am leaving behind a really strong, largely home grown and home trained team at Dodds, to ask that simple question "what can we do to help?"


You are in good hands.


Thank you to you all and I sincerely hope that you, your businesses, and your families continue to thrive. 

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