Thatcham accountants celebrate 50 years of being ‘valued resource’ in High Street

A Thatcham company has celebrated half a century of business.

Heslops Chartered Accountants marked its 50th anniversary milestone at a ceremony at Thatcham Memorial Hall on July 9.

Heslops started in 1974 when its founder Colin Heslop bought two ground floor rooms at 1 High Street from a liquidator – which, at the time, had no power, running water, doors or windows.

Mr Heslop spent the first three months working from clients’ offices or from his shed at home.

But 50 years on, the business has bloomed into a “valued resource” in the community.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Heslop said: “I would like to start by saying a big, heartfelt thank you to the directors and staff for organising this event, which came as a surprise to me, as I still think of myself as a big kid just starting out.

“I want to thank everyone who has been involved with Heslops, both clients and employees, for keeping the business going.

“It means a huge amount to me and makes me very proud.”

Deputy mayor of Thatcham Petra Pemberton added: “I want to say thank you on behalf of Thatcham Town Council.

“Well done on reaching this huge milestone.

“Heslops is a valued resource in our local community.

“Your milestone is testament to the timeless impact you’ve made in Thatcham.”

Speaking more about how the company started, Mr Heslop added: “I had been using accountants as an employer at that time, and felt I could do a more inclusive role if I had a go myself. I knew nothing about tax.

“Once we moved in, productivity went up leaps and bounds.

“And everything grew from there.”

Heslops is an independent firm with offices based in Thatcham, Weybridge and Lymington.

It works with a range of individuals and corporate clients, offering a range of accountancy, auditing, taxation and business services.