John Neighbour is retiring after 45 years with HB Accountants

A letter from our former Tax Director, now Tax Consultant,
Mr John Neighbour

I joined HB in September 1976 from Thomson McLintock (now part of KPMG) in order to set up a tax department.  At that time, we were based in London at Coventry House near Liverpool Street Station.  45 years & 4 office moves later, we are now based at Plumpton House in Hoddesdon. Over the past few years, I have been winding down my time commitments & at present I am typically working about two days per week. At the same time my tax manager, Amy Thompson, has been taking on more responsibility. 

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Meet Keith Grover – Director, Ferrari enthusiast and HB stalwart

For the past 35 years, Keith Grover has worked at the heart of HB Accountants, he is our Audit and Accounts Hero and has seen many changes over the years. He first joined us back in 1986, there was one DOS-based computer for use by the whole office (if you don’t remember DOS-based computers, Google it, it means you are young). No mobile phones and two thirds of the office was male and the women usually worked as secretaries, thankfully things have changed. Fast forward to today when over half the office is female and we’re moving to fully digitised taxation and accounting systems. The one thing that remains, as Keith explains, is that clients still expect the same dedication and thorough understanding of their business. It’s this personal touch that sets HB apart.

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HB Accountants’ History Chapter 1: Our Inception

As we celebrate our 100th birthday this year, we thought it would be fun to look back at the history of HB Accountants. Here’s Chapter 1 – our birth!

Our founders… welcome to the original Team HB, Mr Hardcastle and Mr Burton. Beevor de Vic Hardcastle, a first world war hero who was wounded in Arras, France in 1918, and Frederick William Burton, who served in the short-lived Accountancy Corps – first met as clerks. They decided to establish B de V Hardcastle Burton Co in New Bond Street, London on 5th February, 1921 but it didn’t take long for them to move to Coventry House, also in the City, and for Beevor to set up a satellite office in Northwood, near to his home.

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COVID19: Business as usual, but from a super safe distance

Letter from the Directors, Karen, Keith & John

Following the unfolding events of COVID19 over the past two weeks, we want to reassure our clients that, albeit we are facing uncertain times, HB Accountants is still very much open for business and Team HB are prepared for any disruption that may occur.

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