FIVE staff members from the Carlisle-based Harrison & Hetherington team notched up major career milestones when they received Long-Service Awards .

Together their shared experience marks 170 years with the company.

Both Heather Pritchard and John Clarke mark 40 years, and David Holliday, Alan Threlkeld, and Michael Styth ring in 30 years of service at H&H. Marking the achievement, all received their awards from Richard Rankin Chief Executive of the H&H Group.

Looking back on his four-decade long career, John Clarke from Castle Carrick said: “I have loved my time with H&H. I joined H&H in February 1968 as a temporary yard’s person helping with the calves for just one day a week. I was supposed to only help until they found someone else at Christmas, but I’m still waiting to find out which Christmas they meant!”

Heather Pritchard, one of the most important figures in pedigree auctioneering in the UK, has spent her whole working life at Harrison & Hetherington. Joining the company 40 years ago, she came straight from school to start as an office junior, building and growing her career with the company today she Pedigree Sales & Marketing Manager, overseeing over 150 sales a year.

She said: “I really have been very lucky in my role, and have seen how things have changed remarkably since my first days. When I joined H&H who were then based in the centre of Carlisle, there wasn’t much of a pedigree operation, so it’s been very satisfying to grow our presence in this area and become of the foremost pedigree sale auctioneers in the country.”

The story of long and rewarding careers for these five H&H employees is an antidote to modern times. Unlike the world of work today, Alan and David (who is now an Auctioneer), started out straight from school, and Michael worked his way up from being an office junior to now concentrate on the financial administration side of the business.

All five are born and bred in the region around Carlisle, and all have tales of how things used to be.

John Clarke said: “Things have changed so much, I remember on one particular day back in the 70s when six calves were sold. We were told to just put them in a hessian bag, wheel them quarter of a mile down to the road to put them in the boot of the bus for the buyer to pick up at the bus stop! This year has been difficult like no other, but I hope 2021 we will get back to normal again, seeing the famers and everyone we have missed.”

Reflecting on these milestones Richard Rankin, commented: “This really is a remarkable achievement and it is a real privilege to see such commitment and long service from our staff, who are now pretty much like family.

“It’s rare nowadays to have such long-standing members of a team, covering decades of a company’s evolution and growth. We couldn’t be happier to mark their collective 170 years’ experience with these awards, and hope we can celebrate properly together next year.”

Meanwhile, Jade Pringle has joined H&H Insurance Group team. In her new role, Jade will work with clients across the North East and the Scottish Borders.

With a degree in Biological Sciences from Newcastle University and over ten years of experience within the rural insurance sector, Jade has a deep understanding of farming and agriculture and the risks involved in this sector of the economy. Across her career she has accumulated key insights into specialist client needs, especially in relation to equine and farming coverage.

Jade said: “I’ve gained a lot of experience in niche markets, so I am very pleased at the opportunity to put my expertise into action and develop a client base that can trust me to provide the insurance offer they need.”