Senior manager Angie Simms is retiring from the practice this Spring – giving her time to invest in herself.
She began at RNS 26 years ago and, while sad to leave colleagues and clients, is looking forward to retirement.
“I was going to retire five years ago when my husband, Ivan, retired from the police but he took another job and I decided I may as well stay on a bit longer,” she said.
“But now I feel I'm ready. I'll miss my colleagues who are friends as well, some very close friends.
“I'll continue to see them but, obviously, not at work. I shall miss being in the office and enjoying the banter.
“But the plan is to focus on me and my health. I'll potter in the garden and we will have more time to travel in our caravan.”
Angie had a baptism of fire when she started at RNS on the 5th January, 1998, as a senior clerk in the accounts and taxation team.
“It was the first year of self-assessment and the 31st January deadline to send in tax returns. I remember sitting in this room, with Rebecca, processing tax returns for a month before I moved upstairs to my own desk!”
It was not long before she was promoted to manager, working for retired partners Ian Pounder and John Bletcher for many years. Both remain good friends. When they retired Angie worked predominantly for Rebecca and latterly for Karen. They all remain good friends.
She has been a senior manager for 20 years and, up to reducing hours to two days a week five years ago, was responsible for the book-keeping and payroll department as well as accounts and taxation.
Angie was responsible for the firm's own payroll for around 10 years.
“Clearly, it was a sensitive job and I was pleased to be trusted to do it.
“Overall, I'll reflect on my time here with joy. I have been lucky to always enjoy my job and the work I have done. I would not have stayed 26 years had I not done so.
“I've worked with some diverse clients. Some have been my responsibility since my first day here and I've worked with generations of the same family.
“I have got to know them really well and some I class as lifelong friends, getting to know them as people as well as in their business.
“It's really nice to have been able to have enjoyed a job to that extent.”
Angie has faced many challenges in her professional and personal lives. In the office, she has overseen major changes such as self-assessment, auto enrolment in pension schemes and Real Time Information, the new way of reporting pay-as-you-earn.
Sadly, she has faced traumatic times out of work. She lost youngest son Adam, aged 18, in an accident three years ago, in 2007/2008 her parents died six months apart and arthritis has had a big impact.
“The partners and colleagues have always been there for me, no matter what.
“When we lost Adam, I was ready to give up. They just said take your time and they welcomed me back when I was ready.
“Nothing has been too much trouble and I have been lucky to have such understanding partners.
“But now I want to focus on me and my health, investing time in myself.”
Angie, Ivan and their eldest son Jack established the Adam Simms Foundation in her younger son's memory, providing sporting opportunities for local youngsters.
“Adam was a very talented sportsman and he would be proud of the Foundation. I'll have more time to dedicate to it and be more proactive and raise more money.
“But I'll always look back fondly and be grateful for my time at RNS and the support the partners and colleagues have given me.”