LAW
DOUBLE MILESTONE
Experience – Punch Robson Solicitors partner John Wilkin has marked a 35-year milestone with the firm .
Punch Robson partner marks 35 years with firm as he turns 60
WORDS : JULIE BURNISTON PICTURES : STUART BOULTON
66 | Tees Business
Turning the Big 6-0 is a time to reflect on life achievements , and for John Wilkin , who reached the milestone on March 17 , it ’ s the perfect excuse to mark an outstanding and unblemished 35 years in practice .
John joined Punch Robson Solicitors on work experience in February 1988 , staying steadfast and loyal through years of numerous changes , bringing many innovations and helping to streamline the firm into the success it is today .
Born in Northallerton , into a farming family , law wasn ’ t something John saw as his future career path .
“ We lived on a dairy farm and though I do like animals , I was more academic than outdoorsy ,” says John .
“ Farming can be a dangerous occupation , particularly dealing with dairy cattle . If you ’ ve ever been kicked by a cow , I can tell you it hurts ! So , it ’ s safe to say that farming didn ’ t really appeal .”
A natural with languages , John achieved top grades in his French and Spanish A levels , as well as studying History , and briefly thought about becoming a teacher .
But , he admits : “ Being rather quiet and lacking confidence , I knew I ’ d be ripped apart !” Inspired by his sister ’ s boyfriend who was studying law at Sheffield , John signed up to do a law degree at Leicester University .
“ I thought it sounded interesting and I ’ d like to say I discovered a passion for law at uni , but the majority of the course was theory . Our land law teacher , Professor Barnsley , would talk about “ Victor the Vendor ” and “ Percy the Purchaser ”. Fictitious people living in a fictious world . I didn ’ t relate to it at all !”
Graduating with little appreciation of how the law works in practice , John went into chartered accountancy , securing a training contract at a practice in Scarborough and passing his conversion exam to show basic competency in accounts .
He found it uninspiring and left after 15 months , contemplating his future .
“ My sister ’ s boyfriend , the same guy I ’ d followed into law , knew people at Punch Robson and persuaded them to give me two weeks ’ unpaid work experience at their three-storey offices on Albert Road in Middlesbrough ,” John recalls .
“ I started in February 1988 aged 24 , shortly after the firm had amalgamated with Gilchrist Smith .”
His arrival coincided with the start of an asbestos removal contract , which entailed clearing one floor of the building at a time .
John was soon put to work lugging furniture and filing cabinets to Gilchrist Smith ’ s office on Borough Road .
“ At the end of the two weeks I ’ d been primarily carrying furniture on a sack barrow up