The Practice
History of Glover & Co
Though one of the smaller accountancy firms in the town, Glover & Co is among the oldest, having been active since 1923. Originally a joint activity between two brothers, with accountancy and estate management taking equal parts of the business, it has developed through a series of changes to the firm as now constituted.
The name Glover & Co first came to use in 1920, when the single Scunthorpe office merged with practices in Doncaster and Wakefield, offering an extension of accountancy services to the area, coupled with the estate management connection that had been built up. During the 1930’s and early 1940’s the firm, managed locally by Mr Harold Bone, operated under the direction of the senior partner in Wakefield but was very much concerned with small local businesses and the taxation problems associated with them.
In 1945 a decisive step was made, whereby the Scunthorpe office became completely independent under the proprietorship of Mr Harold Bone, a long established and well respected local businessman, and from that time the principal place of business has been in Scunthorpe. In 1951 Mr Derek Bone then a recently qualified Scottish Chartered Accountant joined the practice firstly as an employee and then in 1953 as a partner. For 10 years father and son continued the policy of offering a range of accountancy, taxation and general advisory services to small local businesses and members of the farming community in the surrounding area, grappling with the wide range of problems presented by a continually changing taxation system, including the transfer from Gainsborough to Scunthorpe of the then district office.
In 1963 Mr Harold Bone retired as a senior partner, but continued to play a very active consultant role within the firm, that then was enabled to describe itself as Chartered Accountants, a title it proudly bears to the present day. From premises in Roberts Street, Scunthorpe the firm continued to offer service and advice to local businessmen, including the massive changes brought in by the 1965 Finance Act. Further major changes, in the shape of value-added tax and decimalization followed, with professional advice extensively required by those grappling with the many regulations attaching to small businesses, and although these complications are now part of history, and in the main taken in the day to day business stride, they remain matters of concern for all involved in the commercial life of the town, and in consequence Glover & Co still offer a wide range of guidance and advise in these and other problem areas relating to business matters generally.
1971 saw a significant further step forward in the firm’s development when two apprentices joined the firm. Mr Graham Bone was the third generation of that family to be active, and his school friend, Mr Barrie Campbell, also embarked on what he hoped would become a lifetime involvement in business finances. In 1973 the firm took over a branch office in Epworth, from a Doncaster accountant and Graham assumed the position of manger there, Barrie remaining in the Scunthorpe office. Family ties not withstanding, Graham did not continue for very many years at Epworth, and subsequently left to join an American Oil Company, from which he has moved on to, believe it or not, the Inland Revenue itself. Barrie meanwhile continued to develop his expertise and influence within the Scunthorpe clientele. In 1981 he became a partner and following a change of premises in 1989, has assumed the role of managing partner then in 1995 following the retirement of Mr Derek Bone, became principal.
He attained his full professional qualification in 1982, and now, still young but experienced, he leads the firm into an era of increased mechanisation where compliance and the protection of allegedly simple and unsuspecting businessmen are major parts of the firms activities. The branch office at Epworth continues to function as a service to the mainly agricultural area of the town, with a small but dedicated staff who fit very happily into the homely atmosphere so characteristic of Epworth.
Mr Derek Bone having relinquished the managing partners role, continued his activity in a narrower and more specialised role, dealing with the investigation work required by the Inland Revenue, to this area he brought over 40 years experience, and felt that here particularly experience and a determination to obtain fair treatment for small businessmen is vitally important. The work is demanding, but the rewards, particularly the gratitude of those who feel that someone fights hard for them, makes it well worthwhile.
Mr Derek Bone retired from partnership on the 31st March 1995 but continued to fulfil his role within the firm as a consultant. He however reduced the time he worked to enable him to spend more time on the golf course a long neglected passion.
Mr Bone ceased his association with the company in September 1996, to take up the position of finance director to a specialist food processing company in Otter St Mary, Devon.
The future of the small accountancy practise has been in doubt for very many years, but it seems to survive and Glover & Co hope and intend to continue well into the next century, offering as always personal service to those who need support in specialised areas, whilst tackling problems brought about by a technological change with determination, but never forgetting that people are people, and in many ways very similar to those of the early days of practice. People, individuals all, remain the most important consideration for Glover & Co.