Early birthday greetings to George EC Smith, admitted in 1927, and who next week celebrates his 100th birthday, still on the roll.

According to his son Charles (also a solicitor), Smith practised law with his uncle, Henry Parfitt, who admitted him into partnership in 1948 at Minet May & Co in Dowgate Hill, one of the oldest firms in the City. Minet May amalgamated with Herbert Smith & Co (now Herbert Smith Freehills) in 1963, and Smith retired in 1979. ‘His principal area of practice was commercial property law, although he dealt with several other parts of the law, and he devised for the London Stock Exchange its motto "My word is my bond",’ Charles Smith says.

‘He continues to live in his home, Rotherfield Station, which he bought in 1972 and still takes a lively interest in legal matters.’