Brenda bows out after 55 years with Harrison Drury

A popular Preston legal executive has retired after working for Harrison Drury for over 55 years.

Brenda Rainford, who is well known in the city’s legal circles, retired from the firm at the end of May after joining the firm straight from school on August 5, 1955, as a junior clerk.

Brenda, who has a daughter and three grandchildren, met her husband Fred while working at Harrison Drury and rose through the ranks to become senior legal executive for its residential conveyancing team, advising on the sale and purchase of houses.

She has only ever worked in two offices, the firm’s current Fleet Street premises in Preston and its previous offices in nearby Lune Street which it moved out of in 1960.

She said: “Most girls were encouraged to go into teaching or nursing when they left school back then, but I think Tom Drury, the principal of the firm at the time, saw potential in me for a legal career, so I joined Harrison Drury and never looked back.

“There’s been huge changes over the last five and half decades, there’s much more red tape now and everything is done by phone and e-mail, but when I first started everything was done face to face, so the job felt a lot more personal. But technology has also changed things for the better too and the process of buying a house is now quicker.

“Harrison Drury has always been a firm that keeps holds of its staff and I feel privileged to have always worked with a really nice set of people. I’ll certainly miss the camaraderie.”

Brenda, who has been an avid Preston North End fan since 1950, and until recently followed her team home and away, says her love of football and spending time with her family will keep her busy in retirement.

John Chesworth, managing partner at Harrison Drury Solicitors, said: “Brenda’s vast experience and personality meant she always secured a lot of recommendations and repeat business and she was well liked by colleagues. On behalf of everyone at the firm, I’d like to thank Brenda for her remarkable loyalty and wish her all the best in her retirement.”

Andrew Bartlett, partner at Harrison Drury, is now heading up the conveyancing team following Brenda’s retirement.