Lawman Anthony marks 50 years of quality service
ASENIOR partner at a solicitors firm is celebrating being qualified for 50 years.
Anthony Penman qualified on July 15, 1970.
Heading up the Alfred Newton firm across five offices - including Stockport, Romiley, Bredbury - he continues to see clients, and provide a wealth of knowledge on conveyancing, probate and wills to the team.
Born in Breadbury in 1943, he left school at 16 with GCE’s, and did not go to college or university.
He started work immediately and after various jobs he ultimately became a civil servant with the Inland Revenue, taking exams and being promoted.
Whilst enjoying the career he had with the Inland Revenue, Anthony did not see himself spending 45 years doing it, so he took a chance, left the civil service and decided to retrain as a solicitor.
He started five years of articles, training in the law with Geoffrey Coupe Solicitors managed by William Whalley.
Anthony qualified in 1970, and he moved to Abson Hall Solicitors in Stockport, being made a partner within a few months.
He joined Alfred Newton Solicitors in 1973 as joint senior partner and has since worked and lived Stockport. Anthony and his wife have developed the practice over the years, and two of their daughters are now part of the firm.
Although he trained in company and conveyancing law, Anthony also developed family and criminal work both defending and prosecuting prior to the CPS being created.
He said: “The costs of qualifying today as a solicitor can be exorbitant, running to thousands of pounds, with students ending with no experience and massive debt.
“There are other ways of qualifying as a solicitor, without having to attend university, which give practical experience to young people in offices with the support of mentors and colleagues.”
He added: “I joined the law because I wanted my life to have job satisfaction, and we get that every day in the law, and you feel that your professional life really matters. I feel content that I have spent my professional life in Stockport assisting this community.”
Anthony has worked to help the local community for decades, in all areas from crime and family law, to wills and probate. He introduced legal aid to the firm as soon as the same was introduced by the government, being committed to helping the most vulnerable. Anthony has also pioneered charity will schemes, ensuring the firm has been a supporter from the outset, donating time to draft wills free of charge in exchange for a donation to a charity.
A spokesman at the firm said: “All the staff at Alfred Newton value his support, knowledge and humour.
“His door is never closed, and he can often be seen at his desk eating a pie, and chatting to staff to help them through any difficulties.
“The firm was founded in 1933 and is still in the same Stockport building today. Anthony likes to blend the principles of traditional client care and quality service, with the benefit of modern technology.”