Peter Corlett, once dubbed the ‘Marathon Man accountant’, has retired from BDO after 46 years.
Mr Corlett started at W H Walker in 1967. The firm later became Pannell Fitzpatrick, then Pannell Kerr Forster, PKF and this year, BDO.
Colleagues at the Peel Road, Douglas offices bid farewell last Wednesday.
His first job was to produce accounts from incomplete records in a small room with three colleagues and a one-bar electric heater.
This was pre-decimalisation, pre-Vat and pre-calculators.
The office resounded to the tapping of typewriter keys, documents were transmitted by telex, copied by Gestetner machines and everyone was addressed by surname.
Peter also worked on audits and could be out of the office for months at a time on government or local authority business.
He was always equipped with the standard issue blue, red and green Bic biros as the colour of audit ticks varied from year to year.
Peter was the first from the firm to take a battery operated calculator out on an audit in 1972.
He has some fine sporting memories as a member of Braddan FC’s first team and leading the firm’s team to many successes in the 70’s.
After a knee injury he turned to fell running and marathons – the Examiner dubbed him the ‘Marathon Man Accountant’.
At one time he held the island veteran’s javelin record and is still no mean golfer.
Peter’s colleagues at BDO said they would miss his modesty, ability and keen sense of humour.
A spokesman said: ‘We wish Peter a very happy retirement.’
