Sheffield says goodbye to Assay Office Chairman, Peter Hayes
Published: 20th October 2019
Mr Peter Hayes, outgoing Chairman of Sheffield Assay Office, being presented with a retirement gift by Vice Chairman, Mr Charles Turner, Law Clerk, Mr Matthew Sibley and Assay Master, Mr Ashley Carson.
On Friday 18th October the Sheffield Assay Office staff and Guardians said farewell to retiring Chairman, Peter Hayes.
The Annual General Meeting of Guardians, held at Sheffield Assay Office's prestigious premises in Hillsbrough, Sheffield, Vice Chairman, Mr Charles Turner, relayed details of the retiring Chairman's career, from graduating University College London as a Civil Engineer to running the Sheffield Hallam University Business School and subsequently the Sheffield Hallam University Enterprise Centre.
Mr Hayes joined the Assay Office as a Guardian in 2007 and served on the Executive Committee for six years, taking over as the 10th Chairman since 1900, in January 2016. During that time he has guided the office through many complicated projects and challenging economic times, has driven investment in Analytical Services and represented the Office at countless JAOC and BHC meetings.
Mr Hayes has immersed himself in his local community in Hope Valley, Sheffield, being Treasurer and then President of the Hope Show and Chairman of the show’s landowners, Marsh Farm Developments. He was also Chairman of Hope Valley U3A, on the board of the Crucible, and in recent years completed a BA in the History of Art, all whilst renovating his home at Losehill Farm and supporting his wife Hilary’s work in London.
The Assay Master, Mr Ashley Carson, presented the Chairman with a unique commissioned design, by award-winning local artist, Jen Ricketts, that incorporates several depictions of Mr Hayes' life in the North, including the Assay Office, Sheffield Hallam University and Losehill Farm.
Mr Hayes expressed his heartfelt thanks for the beautiful gift and described how he had originally been introduced to SHU and the Assay Office. He commented that it had been a real pleasure to be involved with what he considered the most professional group of people he had worked with and that he would very much miss being involved.
The Sheffield Assay Office was established in 1773, under an Act of Parliament and today the company assays and hallmarks the precious metals - silver, gold, platinum and palladium. Sheffield Assay Office is one of only four UK assay offices who all work to uphold the Hallmarking Act of 1973 and continue to ensure consumer protection for customers purchasing precious metals.
To find out more about the whole range of services offered by Sheffield Assay Office, such as our hallmarking and analytical services, please email us at info@assayoffice.co.uk or complete the contact form on our website at http://www.assayoffice.co.uk/contact-us ,
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