Patrick Howitt marked his retirement from the printing industry with a farewell lunch at Stationers Hall last week.


The guest list comprised friends, colleagues, rivals and customers from Howitts near 40-year career in print. It included Victor Watson, Wolfgang Gorth, Mike Hunter, Ron Welch, Peter Jarrold, Mike Mitchell, Rodger Booth, Ian Cooper, Ian and Nick Linney, Michael Bairstow and Peter Robinson. Former BPIF chiefs Tom Machin and Colin Stanley also attended.


"I felt very flattered that lots of friends from different parts of the industry turned up I dont suppose well ever get that lot in one room again!" said Howitt.


Paul Dane, the former Howitt sales director, described working with Howitt as "a great mixture of work hard, play hard. Hes a very fair-minded person who always listened to others point of view."


Story by Jo Francis