Commercial Property Experts

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Tony bows out of property after 40 years

19 January 2016

Andrew and Ashwell’s Tony Barrie is set to retire, after a commercial property career spanning 40 years.

He is bidding farewell to colleagues this Christmas, having spent the last 16 years with the leading Leicestershire firm.

Born in Cornwall and with a childhood spent in Surrey, then York, Tony moved to Leicester in 1951. He is a former Wyggeston Grammar School boy and initially forged a career in engineering, entering an apprenticeship with long-established local engineering firm Gimson and Co. Having gained a Higher National Certificate in mechanical engineering, he spent a year doing machine tool research with PERA at Melton Mowbray, followed by seven years as an environmental engineer with Associated Electrical Industries.

Itchy feet took him on the road in technical sales until Tony opted for a complete change of career and turned his attention to property.

In 1975 he joined Bonfield Hirst and Co, which is now Innes England, where he was mentored by Vic Bonfield and Peter Parsons, gaining experience in all aspects of commercial and industrial property sales and lettings.

Tony worked extensively in the disposal of a huge oversupply of office accommodation in Leicester city centre that had been developed during the 1970’s property boom. He later gravitated toward the industrial sector; also taking on board lease renewals, rent reviews and other professional work.

Having joined Andrew and Ashwell in 1999, Tony took advantage of further tutelage from then Senior Partner Alan Sawden and continued to build up a broad client base.

Having eventually found his niche in working life Tony says he has hugely enjoyed his career in commercial property. He will now have more time to devote to his out of office interests, including rugby union, cricket, horse racing, older films, biographies, quizzes, and general socialising.

“Being in commercial property has given me tremendous job satisfaction, especially when it comes to sealing a deal, or the troubleshooting side of having a problem to solve. I’ve also enjoyed the variety of time both in and out of the office. Changing career was definitely the right thing to do.”