THERE cannot be many people who can lay claim to having just one job interview in their life.

Solicitor Peter Powell can.

On his 16th birthday he was sent to the labour exchange in Colchester town centre, offered three posts, and took the one that would lead to a life-long career in the law.

He said: “I left school with a handful of exams and I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do.

“Back in those days – 1963 – there really were lots of jobs.

“The countrywas booming and when I went to the youth labour exchange I had a pick of positions.

“There was a job in the accounts department at Marriages, a clerical position with British Rail and a solicitor’s clerk at Ellisons.

“I didn’t really know anything about the law, but I thought that one sounded quite interesting so I said ‘can I try that please’.”

That’s where Peter has remained for the last 52 years, until last week when he finally took his well-earnt retirement.

He said: “When I left the labour exchange I walked straight to Ellisons office and had my interview with David Papillon (the man who ran the firm).

“He was a fabulous man, so suave and sophisticated with his Jermyn Street shirts and Saville Row suits. Everyone loved him and they would do anything for him.

“I was very lucky he saw me because he was incredibly busy most of the time.

“But he did, and after talking to me forawhile said: ‘Yes I think I will offer you the job, but before I do, I would like tomeet your parents’.

“It would have been difficult for my father to get time off work so the following week I went back with my mother and he gave me the job.”

Starting off in residential conveyancing, the legal part of buying and selling houses, Peter was mentored by partner Jack Tinson, who is still alive today, aged 92.

Peter said: “It was boom times back then and I think they were looking for clerks to train up for the future.

“I ended up doing my legal executive exams and because the Law Society deemed they were equivalent to A Levels I could then go on and train to become a solicitor.”

After a number of years working in residential conveyancing Peter moved into commercial work ending up doing the legal work for many properties in the town centre.

He said: “As a firm, we must have dealt with nearly half of the commercial properties in the town.

“Just walking down Crouch Street around the corner from the office I could probably say we have done most of the buildings down there.”

His other lasting legacy is the company itself.

Made a partner by the time he was 30, Peter then went on to become a senior partner, giving valuable advice and support to many of the solicitors who lead the company today, including current senior partner, Guy Longhurst.

He said: “Both Guy and Phil Roberts trained with me.

“In fact Guy said to me once: ‘Peter you’ve taught me all I know, but not all you know’, which is very kind of him because actually he knows far more than me.”

Outside of Ellisons, Peter is perhaps best known as a director of Colchester United for 19 years, a post he left four years ago.

During that time he was also a member of the Football League Board.

He said: “I joined the first year we got back into the league.

“We had some wonderful times, getting to the Play Offs at Wembley and reaching the Championship, which was a brilliant achievement.

“Working with the Football League board was also fascinating for me.

“I remember going along to my first meeting and seeing a crowd of reporters outside and thinking what have I got myself into.

“We were deciding on the fate of Luton Town who had already been deducted ten points by the FA for misconduct.

“When we deducted points from them as well, that pretty much meant relegation, which was tough on the fans, but was definitely the right decision.”

As well as remaining as a consultant to Ellisons, Peter will continue his work with the FA on their disciplinary panel, a job he loves doing although is at pains to say he can’t really talk about.

Now the father-of-four, who lost his wife Clare to cancer in 2000, is looking forward to his retirement treat, a 22-day cruise with his partner Francoise, which starts in the Middle East and makes its way to the Mediterranean.