Loyalty and commitment.

(From Essex Chronicle Series)

JOINT main sponsor of the Essex Business Excellence Awards, accountancy firm Bird Luckin, said farewell to one of its longestserving team members when Barrie Goodey retired after almost 50 years.

Mr Goodey joined Luckin and Sheldrake on September 12 1960, and began working in the company's Braintree office.

On starting he was paid the princely sum of GBP182 per annum, which quickly increased to GBP200 per annum to cover his bus fares. Barry added that his daily chargeout rate at that time was two guineas.

When someone suggested that this was the equivalent to approximately GBP2.20 per day, he replied: "Just to be …