Senior partner at Hessle-based accountancy practice Harris Lacey and Swain, Mike Holdstock, is celebrating 60 years working in the profession.
The East Yorkshire accountant’s career began in 1962 – with his mother firmly by his side.
“Fresh out of school, I went to a youth employment office in town with my mother – she insisted on coming with me – and the choices were jobs in offices, shops, and factories.
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“There was a new position for a junior audit clerk at Hird Major & Co on George Street advertised – one of the only combined accountants and insurance brokers in the region at the time. After a successful interview – also attended by my mother! – I began working there – and to this day, that interview is the only one of my career.”
He remained with the firm as it later merged with another practice and became Gillingwater Major Larter & Co – until 1987. He remembers his 25 years there as a pleasant and productive experience, learning and growing the knowledge that has shaped him as an accountant today.
He said: “Jack Major and Oswald Hird taught me some valuable lessons in client relationships, how to nurture their businesses and consequently many values I hold today – honesty, integrity, and respect – they are a legacy of those earlier years.”
In 1987 Mr Major passed away and his co-partners decided to sell the practice, which prompted Mike, Allan Nicholls and Paul Train to form Holdstock Nicholls Train & Co, which clocked up 33 years before merging Harris Lacey and Swain in late 2020.
Mike said another “major influence” was his wife Ann, who he married in 1971 and supported his decision “100 per cent” to start his own practice – she has been a “driving force” throughout his career, he said, no doubt contributing to the success.
A proud father of two, Sally-Ann and Graham, he will celebrate his 60 years by taking his wife on a cruise to southern Spain.
Away from work he is a founder member of the Rotary Club of Hull Paragon, twice being president and serving on the district team. He is also passionate about sport and played for Hall Road Rangers between the ages of 16 and 18, before moving on to other teams in the Sunday and amateur leagues, and supports Hull City.
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