BUILDING surveyor Max Southwell MRICS has retired after a long and successful career in the property profession spanning 45 years.

Colleagues from Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s Yeovil office gave him a suitable send off and the Partners have presented him with a painting of an elephant by wildlife artist David Shepherd.

Max was one of the partners from R.B. Taylor that linked up to form Greenslade Taylor Hunt back in the 1990s.

He has enjoyed his career, but will not miss the travelling. He regularly clocked up 1,500 to 2,000 miles a month carrying out residential surveys in Devon and Somerset.

On one memorial occasion, when he was parked for a well-deserved spot of lunch, he was joined by an inquisitive pony, who stuck his head in the car – attracted by Max’s tasty sandwich!

Administrator Shirley Mitchell has supported Max during much of his time in Yeovil.

She said: “He has been the best boss I have ever had. We have had good laughs and good fun. He is also the most hard-working person I have ever known.”

Right up to the last moment he was carrying out valuations.

Charles Clark, Chairman of GTH said: “Max was already a Partner with R B Taylor & Sons when Greenslade Hunt merged with them in 1997. He was an excellent and supportive Partner at all times, more than happy to let younger Partners have their head whilst continuing to work extremely hard at the areas for which he was responsible. That he has continued for so long past what many people would consider a normal retirement age is a tribute to his commitment and enthusiasm for the job. He put in very long hours even as a consultant and had the energy levels of surveyors many decades his junior. More to the point his knowledge of property and property values across the region was probably unsurpassed and brought all that expertise and commitment to bear on the huge number of valuations he carried out each year. He regarded nothing as a lost cause, hence his continued support of Yeovil Town Football Club whose successes and travails always gave him interest. He deserves a long and varied retirement as befits a man of many interests. He remains an enthusiast and great company and we all wish him well.”

He joined RB Taylor in the 1970s having previously worked in Hereford and Marlborough and spent a year in South America after gaining his qualifications at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester.

In retirement he intends to spend more time travelling in England and abroad. He also plans long walks with his German Shepherd, Duke, and to help Somerset Wildlife Trust.