A LONG service award has been given to a Petersfield employee who has put in 45 years at a town solicitors.
Hundreds of individuals and families have been helped with wills and probate over the years by Michael Parr of Mackarness and Lunt in the High Street.
He joined the company in January 3, 1972, as a 17-year-old with five CSE qualifications from what was Petersfield Secondary School, now The Petersfield School.
An apprenticeship in the expanding probate department, he learned from his old boss Leonard Potter, working his way up to becoming a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Legal Executives, gaining qualifications along the way.
“I came here knowing nothing,” said Michael (61), who was born in Sheet but now lives in Petersfield. “But it was nice to start at the bottom and work my way up. I think you get a better feel for it that way.”
Being sympathetic at a difficult time for people has been a rewarding part of the job for Michael who typically deals with up to 40 probate cases and around 50 wills a year.
He has also specialised as a solicitor for the elderly.
“You see people at a very vulnerable time. No one can cope with bereavement easily, so you reassure people that everything will be OK, that it will get sorted,” he said.
Dealing with feuding families is a challenge, when large sums of money and family heirlooms are at stake. The largest probate Michael has dealt with was £8m.
“In some families you are always going to get disputes. It’s a symptom of modern life. People seem more possessive and demanding,” he said. “It’s not the same job it was in 1972. Computers haven’t helped with that, as people have more knowledge, but it’s not necessarily up to date knowledge.”
“Someone might have been promised the grandfather clock, but if there are other siblings involved it becomes difficult. If there are arguments over chattles, they are put in a local sale. Common sense prevails.”
His colleagues presented him with a certificate and tickets to Goodwood Festival of Speed as he is a Formula One enthusiast.