August 2005

A close knit team at local solicitors Thompson Smith & Puxon who have known and worked with each other in Clacton-on-Sea for over thirty years have said goodbye reluctantly to secretary Dorothy King, aged 63, who retired this month. Dorothy had worked at the Clacton office of TS&P since 1991, where she has been an assistant to June Catchpole, Legal Executive, who has worked with the firm for over thirty years.

Dorothy’s career in the legal profession started in 1958 at HJ Drury & Co, which was to eventually become Thompson Smith & Puxon. She left in 1961 to work with local solicitor John Daldy when he set up a practice in Colchester. She returned to Thompson Smith & Puxon in 1991 after bringing up her family.

Dorothy has known Robert Gillespie, Partner at Thompson Smith & Puxon, throughout his career. Robert, the firm’s longest standing Partner, has lived and worked in Clacton-on-Sea during his entire career and has been a Partner for thirty five years. During this time there has been a succession of four practices – with Thompson Smith & Puxon taking over ML Rooke & Co in 2003.

Dorothy plans to celebrate her retirement by going on holiday with her husband Derek before spending time relaxing with the rest of her family.