Though a sly old fox, Obiter has almost been out-foxed by Hertfordshire law firm Curwens. We requested details of long-serving legal secretaries and were startled to receive Curwens’ surely unbeatable record of 72 years. Closer scrutiny, however, revealed the firm was claiming the sum of Jenny Rogers’ 48 years and Sue Bayford’s 24 years. The two secretaries retired at the same time, having clocked up a combined total of 72 years, almost certainly a record of some sort.

Meanwhile, GoodyBurrett, which managing partner Bryan Johnston told Obiter is Colchester’s oldest (founded in 1760) law firm, also tried to bend the rules by entering a practice manager. Linda Gant joined the firm on 27 February 1966, almost 43 years ago. Johnston said: ‘She has no intention of leaving as on the only two occasions she did so in the past, she came back with a new baby.’

Another long-server is Myra Cooper, who has been with Wartnabys in Market Harborough for 52 years. That firm can trace its history back to 1740. Partner Jeremy Wakefield said: ‘Myra joined the firm as an office junior in July 1957, before becoming a secretary and then later a probate clerk, and she is still going strong!’

Despite all these notable achievements, Pauline Austin, a secretary at Staffordshire firm Pickering & Butters for 60 years, still holds the long-service record. We doubt we’ve heard the last on the subject, though.