Taking Stock - No spring chicken, but going strong.

Anyone over 35 may be classified these days as clapped out and crumbling in the newer corners of our contemporary economy. But in chilled-out Bristol there is still a place for an active nonagenerian accountant. TS would like to bring the attention of its spring chicken readers to the fine example of chartered accountant Harry Cooper, who recently passed the 90-year-old mark in full possession of his abacus, driving licence and Clifton village practice office.

Cooper was admitted to the English ICA back in 1932, and, almost seven decades later, still turns up to his Burton Sweet office, if a little later these days at the civilised hour of 11am. Married for 65 years and a father of four, two of whom are themselves retired, Cooper started his career in Bristol under the wing of the Dickensian sounding Mr Ricketts, whose firm later became Ricketts Cooper. Cooper is one of nine nonagenerian chartered accountants still practising in England, while a further 447 have taken the more usual route of retirement. Unphased by the internet, digital TV, self-assessment forms or decimilisation, the nonagenerian says he has no plans to pack in the day job for at least the next couple of years.