Retirement for Andrew

A man who was a long-standing partner at one of Berwick-upon-Tweed’s oldest businesses has retired from the firm.
Andrew Ayre.Andrew Ayre.
Andrew Ayre.

Andrew Ayre began his accountancy career at Greaves West & Ayre (GWA) in 1978, before becoming a partner in 1988.

However, his association with GWA began three generations previously when his grandfather, John T Ayre, came up from Newcastle to open a Berwick branch office of Greaves & Company in 1918.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After John T Ayre’s sudden death in late 1947, his son Gordon, Andrew’s father, returned to Berwick from the navy and was joined by Arthur West and the firm later took the name of Greaves West & Ayre.

When Andrew joined the firm there were a total of six partners and around 30 staff. In 1988, he joined his brother, Peter Ayre, as one of eight partners.

GWA today employs more than 120 staff and has offices in Berwick and Haddington – plus a sister firm, Three Counties Wealth, which is based near Chester-le-Street.

Andrew said that following over 40 years at GWA, and with more than 30 of those years as a partner, now is the right time to move into the next phase of life as he passes his 60th birthday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: “We have a very capable, strong and talented team of professionals who have helped the firm grow and thrive.

“Indeed, I must give thanks and credit to the strong support I have had from that team during my career and from colleagues past and present.

“I also would like to thank all our clients for their support and business over the years. The personal contact, being able to help with problem solving and delivering creative support is what I have enjoyed most.”

Andrew has held a number of roles outside the practice. This has included working with many Berwick town projects and acting as treasurer for numerous groups over the years, taking a particularly prominent role in averting closure of The Maltings during a financial crisis in the late 1990s.

His time will still be in demand as he continues his wide-ranging philanthropic support of the local community and his well-known role of advocate and chair of The Wilson’s Tales Project.

Related topics: