Retirement after 37 years for Conroy Brook PA! 

Yorkshire property developer Conroy Brook last week bid farewell to long-serving receptionist and personal assistant Barbara Sykes, after a record 37 years with the Holmfirth based company.

Barbara, who was born in Huddersfield but now lives in Clayton West, joined the housebuilding firm in 1976 as an accounts person, but ended up doing a bit of everything as it was such a small company at the time.

When Barbara joined the now award-winning developer, Ivan Conroy was at the helm and they were working on several local developments including homes in Wooldale, Shepley and Honley.

From a small cottage office, the company has grown significantly year by year, and Barbara – alongside Ivan – has been a constant figure throughout.

Although she could have retired some years ago, at 77 Barbara has finally decided the time is now right, however she won’t be stopping work entirely. “My daughter has a hairdressers in Holmfirth so I’ll be helping out there, and looking after my grandchildren, and I will also continue to look after Ivan’s personal affairs. I do like gardening though, so hopefully I’ll have time to do more of that!”

When asked about her time at Conroy Brook, she said: “It’s been a great experience! Every year has been different with constant change, which is no doubt why I stayed for so long!”

Ivan Conroy, who has himself taken a back step from the day-to-day running of the business, with his son Richard now heading the company, said: “We would like to wish Barbara all the very best in a well-earned retirement and I would personally like to thank her for the years of service she has given. We have developed a very amicable and trusting, professional relationship over 37 years, and it has been a great pleasure to go through those together.”