For many people, the word retirement means taking a well-earned rest, putting your feet up – or pottering in the garden.
Not for 68-year young Joan Fosten, who leaves McBrides Chartered Accountants on December 31 2011, as one of the firm’s longest-serving employees.
For Joan, retirement means the chance to get to grips with her long-standing love of carpentry – and knuckle down to some serious joinery and DIY!
Said Joan: “Although I have really loved my job and will miss work and all the staff, I always thought I chose the wrong career. In my day, girls went to work in a shop or an office. Today, they have such a wide choice.
“I’ve always enjoyed putting up cupboards and shelves and, given my time again, I’d like to have tried my hand at carpentry!”
Already an enthusiastic DIY-er, Joan is more likely to be found in the aisles of B&Q than H&M – and when she’s not busy wielding her power tools and paintbrush, Joan spends quality time with her eight-year old grandson Jeremy – or writing poetry.
Rather than relaxing in front of the TV, Joan enjoys writing funny ditties, sometimes gently lampooning her colleagues at McBrides. One was deemed so good it was featured on a company Valentine card!
Joan said: “I like to keep busy and I’m conscious that I will need to keep my mind and body active once I leave work, so I have lots of ideas lined up.”
Joan is looking forward to spending more time with her friends and three brothers and sister but stressed: “I won’t be a lady who lunches!”
The sprightly sexagenarian, who lives in Blackfen, joined McBrides, based at Nexus House, Sidcup, back in 1988, whilst raising her only son Paul.
She has worked as a secretary and PA to numerous members of staff, latterly acting as PA to Staff Partner John Eldridge.
During her 23 years service, she has seen staff come and go – and the advent of calculators, computers and a whole host of other office technology!
She said: “I am looking forward to abandoning the 6.00 am alarm call each morning, and the rush to get the bus to Sidcup Morrisons and back within my lunch hour. I will miss all my friends at McBrides very much – it has been a great pleasure working here for 23 years and, although there have been changes in the company over the years, the quality of work ethic has remained constant and the relationship between partners and staff has always been friendly and helpful. My best wishes go to the Partners for continuing success in the future.”
John Eldridge said “Joan has been with us through “thick and thin”, and you will not find a more loyal and trustworthy employee. She has kept pace with so many technological changes over the last 23 years it’s a credit to her and shows her willingness to keep at the top of her game. Whilst she will be sorely missed, we are delighted that she will now have the time to pursue her other interests outside of work and we wish her a long and happy retirement”.
Joan was presented with a WII fit, tickets to see War of the Worlds at the O2 in 2012 and vouchers on behalf of all her colleagues and friends at McBrides, at the firm’s Christmas Party, held at Brands Hatch Place.