About us
The Chartered Accountancy Practice now known as Stephenson Sheppard & Co has been providing accountancy services to the Salisbury community for almost 80 years. The original practice being formed by Mr L W Bennett in 1929, although records in our possession indicate that Mr Bennett probably acquired an existing practice, the name of which we have been unable to trace. In 1963 Rowland Stephenson FCA, having established a practice in Bournemouth acquired the practice of Mr C McFie, located at 63 New Street, Salisbury and a year later acquired the practice of L W Bennett who was retiring due to ill health. In 1965 Rowland Stephenson was joined by John Sheppard FCA, and the Salisbury practice relocated to Castle Street changing its name to ‘Stephenson Sheppard & Co’ with John Sheppard being the partner responsible for the Salisbury office. In 1994 John Sheppard, who had been suffering from ill health for several years, decided to retire and the decision was made to sell the Salisbury practice and in August 1994 Geoffrey Stone FCA acquired the practice. Regretfully John Sheppard died shortly thereafter. In 1996 Geoffrey Stone joined forces with Mark Russell FCA, who had established a practice in Hythe near Southampton, and the two practices were merged under the Stephenson Sheppard name. In September 1999 a practice in Lymington was acquired and the Hythe office was transferred to the Lymington premises. In April 2000 the Salisbury office relocated to our present offices at Albany House, 5 New Street, Salisbury. Our direct links with Hythe were re-established in April 2002 when the practice of Brian Arthur was acquired, Brian Arthur having practiced in Hythe for some 17 years. The acquisition of Brian Arthur’s practice strengthened our presence in the Forest and Waterside area. In 2004 the Lymington and Hythe Offices were merged into purpose designed offices in the Dibden area of Hythe. In the same year, Jonathan Baggot FCCA who qualified with the firm joined the board of directors. Regretfully Mark Russell died in March 2008 after a brave battle against cancer.
We at Stephenson Sheppard & Co are proud of our heritage and the continuity of service that has been provided to our clients. The majority of the core staff have been with the practice for in excess of 30 years, and provide a depth of knowledge and experience of the local business community that enables them to relate to and understand client requirements. In an ever fast moving, changing world, and the increasing impersonal approach being adopted by larger businesses we believe that clients appreciate the fact that their affairs are dealt with by staff who they have known for many years and potential clients have the reassurance that they too will receive the same personal service and continuity of service.
