A WELL-KNOWN Huddersfield accountancy firm that “ceased to exist” after a merger 25 years ago held a reunion for more than 75 former staff.
Armitage & Norton joined the current firm of KPMG in October, 1987, but it was resolved by the partners and employees that an annual reunion should take place to maintain the memories of a firm that was founded in Huddersfield in 1878.
The 25th anniversary was marked with a special reunion at the George Hotel in Huddersfield. The occasion was – as always – organised by Pat Earles.
Robert Sugden, a former head of the office, said: “It is a real tribute to the loyalty and camaraderie that the firm engendered that so many people attended to reminisce in convivial style.”
The firm was founded by William Henry Armitage, of Banney Royd, in 1878. George Pepler Norton became a partner in 1888 and his son Gilbert and grandson George continued in the firm until 1978 in the centenary year.
The firm was very well known for its knowledge of textile firms and was responsible for the audit of dozens of textile companies in West Yorkshire.
The firm expanded beyond its five offices in West Yorkshire into London, Edinburgh Lancashire and the Midlands, but Mr Sugden said the Huddersfield office was always the head office of the whole firm, which employees more than 500 people.
He said: “The site of Station Street Buildings was acquired in 1900 and was considered to be – and still is – one of the finest buildings in Huddersfield with its carving of ‘Station Street Buildings’ still present in the northerly corner.”
