A love of figures has always been a driving force for Michael Muskett and now he has reached a very special number - 50 years in the accountancy business.
The senior partner in East Anglia for PKF Accountants & business advisers celebrated his remarkable milestone in Great Yarmouth, the town where his career started in 1961.
And he still clearly remembers the early days with what was then Tunbridge & Groom accountants at 6, South Quay.
"Technology was nil and we had just moved on from the abacus and into an age of comptometers which were scarce and they had to be shared by staff. Fortunately I was very good at mental arithmetic," he said
"In those days, there were no induction procedures; I went straight to work. I was also given daily responsibility for lighting and keeping the old primus stoves working. It ensured my punctuality as if I was late back from lunch the rooms would fill with black smoke."
Mr Muskett has never been tempted to consider any other career and that devotion to duty was marked at PKF's Yarmouth office by a celebration lunch with partners and staff from across the region.
One of his best memories is of how he studied and successfully took his exams in his own time - and the pride at ultimately being made a partner in 1978.
Life is not all about accountancy and, away from the Beacon Park office, Michael is a keen follower of Norwich City Football Club, enjoys wildlife and steam trains and, more recently, time with his grandchildren.
When he does finally put away the calculator, he wants to be healthy enough for extended travelling holidays - especially involving railways - to keep close contact with PKF and clients, do some consultancy work, keep up his NWES chairmanship and further extend his charity work.
After 50 years of accountancy, he is also happy to be its ambassador.
