The era of Queen Victoria and Charles Dickens came to life as colleagues from an accountancy firm celebrated the company’s 140th anniversary.
Fancy dress and traditional games were the order of the day as the offices of Saint & Co, across Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway, raised a glass to mark the anniversary of the business, founded in 1884.
Despite the theme of the day, there wasn’t a Scrooge in sight, with the company announcing its charity of the year as the NSPCC. Originally called the London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (LSPCC) when founded in the same year as Saint & Co, the NSPCC has since become one of the UK’s best-known charities.
Staff across the accountancy firm’s 10 offices kick-started the fundraising drive with a Victorian-themed event, dressing in period outfits, playing games popular in the 1800s, and enjoying food from the era.
Lindsay Farrer, Managing Partner at Saint & Co, said: “As our company celebrates its landmark 140th anniversary, what better charity to raise money for than one that provides such a great service to millions of children, and which is also celebrating 140 years.
“Just like Saint & Co, the NSPCC has navigated some tough societal challenges but remains as strong as ever. It’s an honour to be raising money for the vital work the charity does.
“It was fantastic to see our staff embrace the challenge of dressing in Victorian outfits. We had such fun while supporting the NSPCC, and we’re excited to host further fundraisers to help this amazing charity as much as we can.”
Founded in 1884 by John Jackson Saint in Carlisle, Saint & Co has grown considerably in size and stature, now employing more than 100 members of staff.
In addition to its headquarters on Carlisle’s Rosehill Industrial Estate, it has offices in Wigton, Whitehaven, Millom, Penrith, and Cockermouth in Cumbria, as well as Annan, Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries, and Castle Douglas in south-west Scotland.
Partner Alex Dent said: “The growth of the business as we reach our 140th birthday is fantastic, and we are so thankful to our amazing clients, who not only put their full faith in our ability but also refer us to their associates.
“There are people at the company who have been with us for four decades, and there are young people just starting their careers in accountancy. We’re really passionate about providing career opportunities through a wide range of career pathways.”
In addition to the Victorian Day, staff at Saint & Co Chartered Accountants will hold various fundraising activities over the next year to support the NSPCC.
The NSPCC is a national charity with local support services that helps children who’ve been abused, protects children at risk, and works to prevent child abuse from happening.
