Date of issue: 5th June 2007

RETIRING PARTNER WILL STAY ON AS CONSULTANT

Family and charitable trusts specialist Christopher Gupwell has retired as a partner with independent chartered accountants Clement Keys, but will act as a consultant to the firm for the next couple of years.

Mr Gupwell, who qualified as a chartered accountant in 1965, spent his early career in auditing before turning his attention to personal tax and trusts. He was one of the first members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and has been treasurer of the Birmingham branch for a number of years. Mr Gupwell is a Trustee of a number of family and charitable trusts and will continue to act in this capacity for the foreseeable future.

Having joined Birmingham accountants Agar Bates Neal & Co. when he left school,
Mr Gupwell became a partner in the early 1970s of what, following a series of mergers, had become the Birmingham office of Harmood Banner. This company subsequently merged with Deloitte and is now part of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

In 1989, in an agreed de-merger, Chris Gupwell left Deloitte to join Felton & Co. along with several of his key staff and some 200 clients, most of whom he was still acting for when he retired. He was one of three partners - along with Neil Houghton and Shona Cutler - to depart Felton & Co. for Clement Keys in 2005.

"Chris Gupwell is well-known and highly regarded throughout the West Midlands business community and we have benefited enormously from his wealth of knowledge and experience, especially in the field of family and charitable trusts," says partner Ian Yorke.

"We are delighted that Chris has agreed to retain an association with the firm following
his well-earned retirement."

Mr Gupwell plans to spend more time fly fishing and playing golf as well as taking motoring holidays in France with his wife Jo.