Irene Walton, aged 66, from South Liverpool has celebrated her 50th year working with a Liverpool based property agency.

The occasion was marked with her friends and colleagues from Thomson and Moulton and Sutton Kersh on Wednesday (January 23) with a presentation at a special ceremony.

The now Manager commenced her employment back in 1957 as an office junior at the age of 16 when Thomson and Moulton was called Stephen Roberts & Son. Irene, who has one daughter called Andrea, has since witnessed many changes to the company, which recently became part of the Sutton Kersh Group.

She said: "I really don't feel like I have been at the company for that long. So much has changed in the property market since I first started; the average price of a house in 1957 was a mere £1,000, and the average rental was Approximately £1.00.per week".

Following her stint as office junior, Irene's career progressed and after a spell in the Accounts Department, she was made secretary to the company's owner, the now late Trevor Roberts.

"Mr Roberts had a hearing impediment", said Irene, "Every time I received a phone call, I would have to sit in front of him with an additional handset and mouth the whole conversation to him. This role gave me so much job satisfaction."

The avid Liverpool FC fan, who attended Lawrence Road Secondary School, has spent the last 50 years dealing with clients, solicitors and tenants and feels she has been left with 'a very good broad brush knowledge of the running of an estate agents office.'

She added: "Being with the company for so long has had many advantages, as I have built up very good relationships, which I feel is so very important."

Tudor Roberts, son of Mr Stephen Roberts and company Director made a speech at Irene's presentation: "This is a very proud day. The only other person I can think of who has been in the same career for fifty years is the Queen. If you ever want anything doing with safe hands, tenderness, and care then Irene is the lady. What an amazing and wonderful achievement."