Hodge Jones & Allen

20^th November 2009

 

Bert Enright, Hodge Jones & Allen’s first bank manager, visited HJA’s office earlier this month. Mr Enright was manager of the Midland Bank, Camden Town for many years in the 70s and 80s. He granted three young lawyers, Henry Hodge, Peter Jones and Patrick Allen, a loan in 1977 which enabled them to start the business which became Hodge Jones & Allen.

 

Mr Enright’s visit to the new office earlier this month was a proud moment, to see how far the practice had come after his initial vote of confidence, and this was the first contact made in over 20 years. He and Senior Partner, Patrick Allen had last been in touch back in 1988, shortly before he retired, so there was plenty to catch up on.

 

In October 2009, Patrick was preparing his speech for the firm’s 32^nd anniversary party. He suddenly thought that it might be possible to track down Bert Enright in his retirement and invite him to the party. It was surprisingly easy. A quick search on 192.com found Bert’s address in Bushy. Another web site produced Bert’s phone number. Patrick dialled the number and Bert immediately answered, sounding unchanged, despite his 76 years, from the man who was in charge of the firm’s account back in the 80s.

 

After hearing Patrick’s story of Bert’s involvement in the speech to 350 party guests at the 32^nd birthday bash in October, the CNJ editor asked to be put in touch with Bert and managed to write a clever piece titled ‘The banker who got it right’*.

 

Bert had not been able to attend the party itself and therefore didn’t receive the accolades personally on the night, however the CNJ author, John Gulliver quickly realised that it was the same man who had underwritten a loan to enable the launch of the Camden New Journal itself, in 1982.

 

Enright, now 76, recalled to Gulliver the visit of the three lawyers that first day. “One looked incredibly young, the second had suave air of an actor, casual floppy hair across his brow with a cut-glass public school accent, while the third was lofty but trendy with big hair fashionable at the time.”

 

Any capital? he asked each of them. No. Any assets? No. Any potential clients? No. But there was an instinct to want to help them achieve their ambition and he secured them a loan for £15,000 to get them started.

 

Today, Hodge Jones & Allen LLP employs 190 staff, practicing in 10 legal disciplines including personal injury, civil liberties, family, crime and housing law. Since 2007 the firm has been operating out of wholly owned premises on North Gower Street, close to Euston Station. Thank you, Bert.

 

 

*Significant reference is made to John Gulliver’s article “The banker who got it right” published in the Camden New Journal, Oct 15^th 2009

 

 

Photo: Patrick Allen with Bert Enright, November 2009.