Jonathan Hewitt MSc., has just graduated in Payroll Management from Derby University and his employers Smith Pearman chartered accountants in Ripley Surrey are justly proud of him. Jonathan who works in the payroll department of the firm was encouraged to embark on his University Course by Senior Partner Keith Hardy, who says “ Jonathan has been with us quite a while and although we did not require him to have a higher degree in the subject of Payroll Management we were delighted with his interest in this specialisation and encouraged him for both his personal gain and for the benefit he brings to our clients” continues Keith,“ training is an important part of business life and it is all too easy to be complacent about the advice a firm imparts to clients. New technology and changes in current practice together with changes in the law demand that companies review training and encourage staff who show initiative”.

Jonathan learnt about the management of acquisitions and disposals,TUPE regulations, Management of Global & International Employment, getting the best out of current systems and working relationships with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs amongst much else relevant to employees and employers.

“We would like to think this will be just one of many mature students of other disciplines within the accounting staff at Smith Pearman, we endeavour to recruit the very best and nurture them so that they remain with us and grow with our clients as their businesses expand and for the past twenty eight years this policy has served us and our clients well”, says Keith.

Guy is currently in advanced training and as you can see he is taking it all very seriously. His training is progressing steadily and it is anticipated he will be partnered at the beginning of next year.

 If you have the urge to raise money to support the training of Guy and other support dogs by sky diving, whitewater rafting, trekking through Peru or over Kilimanjaro or cycling across Cuba, you can!

You find the sponsors, The Smith Pearman Charitable Trust can get it organised.  For details contact us at 01483 225457 or email keith@smithpearman.com 

Well - go on then ....

Download a leaflet on how you can enjoy life's adventures and raise money for support dogs:

If only someone had told Guy it was just for the children!

We raised over £200, which at 50p a game meant that at least 400 visitors attended our stall.
Guy’s puppy parent, Glenis, and her husband, Brian, brought Guy together with Zebadee, another Canine Partner trained dog. Zebadee took part in the agility display whilst Guy did what he does best, winning the hearts of all who met him!

Guy was not the only dog to win hearts – Julia’s dog, George, was also a star attraction, particularly with the young ladies, who, with the aid of their mobile phones, wanted to have their photograph taken with him – next year we might start charging for this privilege!

 The story of the bike ride by three from Smith Pearman to raise funds for Guy, the assistance dog the Smith Pearman Charitable Trust is supporting.

Saturday 14th June 17:00

Eiffel Tower!  They have arrived.  All three in great form with no injuries.
Now celebrating with champagne.  Anyone for climbing the tower?

The highlight of the final day's ride was cycling down the Champs Elysees to a chorus of hooting and cheering from all the cars and being cheered and congratulated by tourists at every traffic light!

For Peter, an extra highlight - encountering a lady at the first water stop of the day who was about to give up with knee problems.  Having built up a collection of knee supports from pharmacies along the way, he could solve the problem!  He was rewarded with screams of thanks and a hug at the holding point a couple of miles short of the finish line.

Our congratulations to the three riders on a very impressive feat, and our thanks to all those who sponsored them to raise money for Guy, our Smith Pearman Charitable Trust sponsored assistance dog. 

If you would like to sponsor the team, you can contact us or go to www.justgiving.com/smithpearman/donate.

Saturday 14th June 16:00

The first riders are expected in minutes!

The welcome committee and spectators have been told to meet them at the back of the Eiffel Tower - now which side is the back?

Saturday 14th June 12:15

The team has stopped for lunch - only 20 miles to go.

Friday 13th June 16:45

Bob has arrived at the hotel in Vernon so the team is back together again. 

230 miles done (244 for Bob!) - 65 miles to do tomorrow to the Eiffel Tower.

Friday 13th June 15:15

Keith and Peter have completed their 72 miles for the day and have arrived at the hotel in Vernon - just 65 miles to go!

Bob has joined the last group of riders.  Unfortunately, someone had taken a sign down and they have just done a 14 mile unplanned detour! But he is on his way.

Friday 13th June 13:00

Keith and Peter have covered 50 miles so far today.  Getting ready to start off again after their lunch.

No sign of Bob yet - fingers crossed he catches them later.

Friday 13th June 10.25

The team has just stopped for a water break after cycling through heavy rain since they started out earlier.

Bob has stopped to take shelter and expects to catch Keith and Peter up later.

Peter's knee is holding up okay - the flat Seine valley helps!

Thursday 12th June 21:45

They are so tired out, they have just all gone to bed!

Thursday 12th June 17:30

Lisieux at last - 88.25 miles.  We understand they are now in the bar for a richly deserved drink.

Rain was so bad this morning another cyclist on the ride had to give up from the cold, but our three are still going strong (well, tired but strong).

Thursday 12th June 14:30

Off on the road again - over 70 miles cycled already today.

After a visit to the pharmacy, Peter now has a knee support.  Fingers crossed for him.

Thursday 12th June 12:15

Today is the longest ride - 88 miles - from Dieppe to Lisieux.  The team has just stopped for lunch after 48 miles in the pouring rain!  Keith reports the gears on his bike are now fine, but Peter has problems with his knee.

Arrived last night at the hotel at midnight - too tired to get to sleep!  Up again at 6:00.

Wednesday 11th June - Newhaven

Arrived safely at Newhaven - time for the all-important energy banana before catching the Dieppe ferry!

Wednesday 11th June 15:41

Only about a mile to go to Newhaven!

Very importantly, in good time for the ferry and a well-deserved meal.

Wednesday 11th June - 09:50

They are off!!

22 miles cycled - only 273 to go.

Problems getting the three bikes in the taxi to the start in Croydon - the driver thought they would be packaged up ready to fly (that would seem to be an unfair way to cycle to Paris!). 

Keith had to dismantle his bike to get them all in - the gears still are not quite back to where they should be.

After several months of bike training, Keith Hardy, Bob Chalk and Peter Sennett will be setting out on the London to Paris Bike Ride to raise money to support the training of Guy, the assistance dog that the Smith Pearman Charitable Trust are sponsoring.  The three start out on Wednesday 11th June.

If you would like to sponsor the team, you can contact us or go to www.justgiving.com/smithpearman/donate.

 So what has Guy been up to?

Guy is hardly recognisable as a puppy now thanks to the excellent care and training by his puppy parent Glenis. He has grown significantly and has a wonderful black shiny coat.

Guy will live with his volunteer puppy parent Glenis and attend weekly training sessions at Canine Partners headquarters in Midhurst for the first year.  At around 14 months he will begin advanced training for up to six months.

Judging by the way young Guy is doing in his initial training, reaching all the goals set for him, we are sure he will be looking forward to plenty more.

One of the challenging aspects of his training in September was being taken to a clay pigeon shoot, where he was very well behaved and not at all frightened by the guns.

In October, November and December it was more of the same weekly training , not that Guy minds, he is always warm and well fed and he loves his exercise.

Well he was always warm until on New Year’s Day 2008 Guy was taken to a Fund Raising event by the Sea and yes you guessed Guy was swimming about in the cold water with another young Labrador proving that anything anyone else can do, he will try to do better. He may not have been the most cheerful looking dog when he got out of the water but it didn’t take him long to shake himself back to his former lovable self.

We are trying to take a few more photographs to show you Guy’s progression and when we do we will post them here on the Smith Pearman Office News spot. We hope you like the few we have taken for you.

Ripley Event 2007

This year we were concentrating on raising money for Canine Partners and had on our stand Wendy Ireland in her wheelchair accompanied by her dog Indi. Wendy and Indi did a demonstration in the main ring to show exactly how much help a dog can be to a disabled person. On command Indi removed Wendy’s gloves, jacket, socks and cap. Wendy talked about some of the things Indi can do for her and showed how, without even speaking to the dog Indi will bark to summon help. In other words Indi has changed her life completely. (the photograph is showing Indi handing Wendy back her socks).

We also had on our stand Glenys and Combo, Glenys has just completed Combo’s first year of training and he will be passed back to Canine Partners next week for some intensive training before being partnered with a disabled person. Glenys is now Guy’s puppy parent so we will be watching their progress carefully. Glenys says Guy is constantly looking at her as much as to say “am I doing all right” and so far, she says, he definitely is.

We managed to raise almost £200 on Saturday which we thought was quite an achievement as the weather was definitely not helping!

A Double whammy! Win
boast local Accountants Smith Pearman

The lucky lady winner of the raffle run by the Smith Pearman Charitable Trust  was particularly delighted at winning a beautiful hand sewn quilt because she was a long time embroiderer herself and was more able to appreciate the finer points of the quilt she had won. The double whammy came when the selected recipients of the funds raised, (Sailability sailing for the disabled) will receive nearly 60% more than anyone had expected (£ 2,320.00) thus two very happy parties and a very satisfactory outcome from what was a generous donation of a hand made quilt by the ‘Prospect Quilters ’ of Thames Ditton in Surrey.

Ripley Accountants Smith Pearman were pleasantly surprised when their Charitable Trust was offered the exquisite hand sewn quilt to raffle for the benefit of Sailability.
The beautiful quilt was donated by  The Prospect Quilters, the collective name for the group of very talented ladies who had made it.
 
This unique quilt it was decided, should become the prize of a raffle organised by Smith Pearman. and because of the quality and desirability of the quilt,  it was expected to raise over £1,000. possibly even £1500. Tickets were sold at a £1 each,

The draw was held in December with the proceeds earmarked for The Smith Pearman Charitable Trust and in particular their current beneficiary Sailability.

Quilt winner Mrs Sue Judd (pictured) has decided that her delightful 4 ft 6ins x 5 ft 6ins quilt is far to precious and attractive to lay on a bed so she intends to hang it on a wall in order that her family and friends can also enjoy the colourful masterpiece. A large vote of thanks must go to the Prospect Quilters, Alyson Huxley who designed it, together with Mary Stewart, Lorraine Galloway, Jen Lickfold, Jill Marsden, Janet McCullagh, Bernadette Marshall, Greta Wennike, Doris Da Costa, Hazel Fry and Brigitte Haydon all of whom worked together to create the quilt that will be admired for generations to come.

Every penny collected  and donated through the Smith Pearman Charitable Trust is 100% for the benefit of the chosen charity without a single deduction of expenses or costs.