JONATHAN MOUNSEY - HONORARY LIFE MEMBER

If ever a family was associated with the Liverpool Society of Chartered Accountant’s it would be that of our latest member to be awarded an Honorary Life Membership.

Jonathan Mounsey is the 6th generation of his family to have graced the accounting profession, and it was with great delight to everyone assembled at the recent Civic reception at the Liverpool Town Hall that Rob Young, deputising for our current President Justin Lang, awarded Jonathan a very deserved Honorary Life Membership.

In the build up to the Sesquicentenary Jonathan delivered a fine history of the Society, and to acknowledge Jonathan’s fine life in the profession and his service to the Society we re-print it here:

A little bit about those "14 gentlemen

At the recent AGM, Past President Jonathan Mounsey regaled us with a fascinating narrative about some of the founders of the Liverpool Society of Chartered Accountants, and his deep family connections.

Here is his near verbatim account, and as you read this, please imagine Joanthan talking to you.

Let me talk to you about the LSCA founders and provide you with a snaphot of some of those attending the first meeting on 25 January 1870.

LOCATION

The offices of Harmood Banner & Son – 24 North John Street, Liverpool

WHO?:

• Harmood Walcott Banner • John Bewley • Henry Bolland • Anthony Wigham Chalmers • Edward Crossland • CF Finney • David Gibson • GE Holt • Williams Mathison • PB McQuie • RW McCarther • Edward Mounsey • Thomas William Read • E Roberts Of those names, I will dwell for a little on Harmood Walcott Banner & Edward Mounsey in a moment.

Firstly though – what is the history of Accountancy in Liverpool before the formation of The Incorporated Society of Liverpool Accountants on 25th January 1870?

Some research undertaken back in 1895 indicated that the first reference to a Liverpool Accountant in a “Directory” was in 1783 and was about John Menzies, Accomptant of Basnet Street in Liverpool, however we are also told that in 1790 there were 5 Accountants in Liverpool 10 in 1796, 3 in 1808, 37 in 1832, 69 in 1849, 91 in 1860, 100 in 1864 & finally 139 in 1870.

The notice convening that first meeting in Liverpool cited the main motive for forming the society as being that “The important changes in the mode of winding up insolvent cases publicly and privately appears to us to render it necessary to form such a society”

So – picking up on the names of some of those present

Firstly – Harmood Walcott Banner. who was he?

His father, Harmood Banner was born in 1782, his grandfather was Thomas Banner and his mother was the daughter of Captain Harmood RN. Harmood Banner – his father – was appointed in 1814 as a “Commissioner to take Bails” (whatever that was, and at that time he was described as “An Accountant”).

He set up his firm of Accountants in 1805 – the year of Trafalgar. Harmood Banner’s grave can be found in St James’ cemetery – in the quarry in the grounds of Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral – a fascinating cemetery. if you haven’t wandered around it, I can highly recommend it.

So - Harmood Walcott Banner – one of the Founding Fathers – carried on the firm of Accountants called Harmood Banner & Son which operated from premises in Harrington Chambers, which was built on a site that Harmood Walcott Banner received as a dowry when he married Margaret. The Incorporated Society of Liverpool Accountants first meeting was held in his offices.

Harmood W Banner and his wife Margaret are both buried in St Andrews cemetery in Bebington. Moving on.

Harmood Walcott Banner had at least two sons, Harmood Banner and Sir John Sutherland Banner.

Interestingly LSCA Past President – Eileen Quinn was recently in a cemetery in Kandy in Central Sri Lanka when she spotted a gravestone bearing the name – Harmood Banner who died in 1873, aged 27. yes – the son of Harmood W Banner. What an amazing coincidence. You’ll have to ask Eileen what she was doing in a cemetery in Sri Lanka.

The Harmood Banner who had an enormous influence on the history of our society was the other son of Harmood W Banner – Sir John Sutherland Harmood Banner.

• He was born 1847 and died 1927. • He was also in the practice –

Harmood Banner & Son • He was LSCASA President in both 1884-1887 and 1893-1895 • And • He was LSCA President in 1893 – 1895 and 1901 -1902 • He was High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1902 • He was ICAEW President in 1905 –

He was on the ICAEW Council for 42 years !! Astonishing. • He was the Member of Parliament for Everton – 1905 – 1924 • He was the Lord Mayor of Liverpool 1912 – 13 • He was knighted in 1913 (reports state that his Braces broke when he was “Dubbed”). • He was made a Baronet in 1924 • He died on 24th February 1927

Sir John Sutherland Harmood

Banner was the first of three LSCA ICAEW Presidents. The others were Arthur Green and Ian Morris. All distinguished LSCA contributors to the ccountancy profession.

Turning now to another Accountancy family, one of whom was also one of the Liverpool Society’s founders.

The Mounsey family started in the world of accountancy when in 1766, an Edward Mounsey was born. He was my Great Great Great Grandfather. It is thought that his occupation included Land Management or Estates Management. He died in 1826.

He had a son, rather unimaginatively (and certainly confusingly) named Edward Mounsey. Born 1796 & died 1844. My Great Great Grandfather. He was listed as a partner in the firm Lewis & Mounsey, Accountants in 1830.

he had a son, yes, you guessed it, named Edward Mounsey. Born 1825 & died 1903.

He was my Great Grandfather. He was also a partner in Lewis & Mounsey and in some records was listed as Sailmaker & Estate Agent. He was one of those who attended the 1870 meeting & was therefore a co-founder of LSCA.

He was also President of LCASA in 1890/91 and President of LSCA in the same year!!

He had four sons – the first was – yes – Edward Mounsey, but he died age one.

The second son was rather helpfully called William Edward Mounsey – born 1870 and died 1953. He was articled to his father and I have the original Articles. I vaguely remember him – my Uncle Will. He had one daughter – Norah, who I ALSO remember well as a keen golfer and walker.

Uncle will was President of LCASA in 1906/07 and of LSCA in 1909/10. He was also captain of Royal Liverpool Golf Club in 1925. Royal Liverpool - Hoylake are celebrating their 150th anniversary this year.

The third son – Charles Harrison Mounsey was born 1875 and died 1914. I know nothing about him – YET – maybe the first World War sealed his fate.

Finally the fourth son – Henry Parkinson Mounsey, born 1878 and died in 1962, my Grand-father. I remember him – he was known in the family as HP. He was a distinguished gentleman, highly respected in the business world, but I cannot find any connection with either the LSASA or LSCA.

He must have been proud when two of his three sons took Articles in Lewis & Mounsey, Arthur and Harry (my father), but he would have also been extremely concerned when they both abandoned their articles to volunteer for the Artillery on the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939.

Arthur was killed by German action on Crete a few days after meeting up with his brother Harry by chance in an olive orchard.

My father Harry was eventually captured by Italian forces at Tobruk. After a period in an Italian Prison Camp he was being transported to Germany when he & a couple of others escaped from a Cattle Truck. They were free for some time, but were eventually recaptured and transported to a Prison Camp in Brunswick in Germany, where he was held prisoner for a number of years & until some months after the end of the war.

Like many others Harry suffered from very poor health, largely as a result of malnutrition and considerable weight loss. However, having got engaged to my mother during the war, their long wait ended when they married in 1946. He re-started his Articles & his studies for the Accountancy exams.

At that time the working week for Articled Clerks was Monday through to Saturday lunchtime, with the Saturday

The Mounsey Family Accountants in the family

Generation

5 Jonathan Howard Henry Mounsey (b. 1949) Articled to Chalmers Impey Worked Deloitte Haskins & Sells - London & Manchester. Liverpool - Qualified 1973. Joined Pannell Fitzpatrick 1981. Partner PKF until 2010 Currently Self-Employed Chartered Accountant

Edward Mounsey (b. 1766, d 5 05 1826)

Edward Mounsey (b. 18 02 1796, d 15 02 1844) Described as A Sailmaker

Described as A Sailmaker. Also as an Accountant from approx 1830. The Firm were Estate Accountants/Land Agents Lewis & Mounsey Founded 1830 Relationship to JHHM

Great Great Grandfather

Edward Mounsey (b. 26 June 1825, d 13 10 1903)

William Edward Mounsey (b. 13 11 1870, d 16/10/1953)

Charles Harrison Mounsey (b. 7 09 1875, d 16/04/1914)

Henry Parkinson Mounsey (b. 14 06 1875, d 28/02/1962)

Arthur Mounsey (b. 1916 d 28/05/1941) Accountant

Accountant

Accountant

Accountant

Articled Clerk

Henry Charles Mounsey (b. 1918 d 09/01/2003) Articled Clerk Described as "Partner" from 1850 approx Lewis & Mounsey Great Grandfather

"Partner" from 1902 approx Lewis & Mounsey

"Partner" from 1906 approx Lewis & Mounsey then Harmood Banner.

"Partner" from 1912 approx Lewis & Mounsey then Harmood Banner from Merger in 1948

Passed Intermediate in 1939 then Enlisted in Army at start of war. Killed in Action in Crete on 28 May 1941 Lewis & Mounsey

Enlisted in Army at start of war. Qualified - 1948. Partner - Harmood Banner, then Deloitte Haskins & Sells Lewis & Mounsey then Harmood Banner from Merger in 1948. Retired from Deloitte & Co in 1978 Grandfather

Father

Julia Sally Holland (b. 1981) Accounting Technician Self Employed JHHM

Daughter

morning being reserved for lectures in the LSCA Library in 5 Fenwick Street.

Harry and a couple of other Articled Clerks knew that passing their exams would be a struggle without expert help. They knew Ronnie Anderson was a brilliant tutor and they went in search of him in North Wales. They persuaded him to tutor them through their studies and “Ronnie Andersons” (eventually Car Rhun Hall was born).

John Anderson later ran Caer Rhun Hall and was a distinguished LSCA President and an ICAEW council member.

The rest is history – more recent history.

One further notable achievement by Hrry and others who returned from Bunswick Prison Camp was the fulfilment of a commitment made whilst incarcerated to set up a boys club for inner-city kids. the Brunswick Boys Club (now Youth Club) in Bootle thrives to this day.

Harry was LCASA President in 1955/56. He was senior partner of Harmood Banner in Liverpool and was deeply involved in expanding that firm, which I recall at one point was called: Harmood Banner, Cash

Stone & Mounsey, Stead Taylor &

Stead…………

When it came to my turn to choose a career, try as I might I couldn’t find anything more exciting to do! Eventually I was Articled to Chalmers Impey at 5 Fenwick Street in Liverpool - one floor above the LSCA Library.

I was secretary of LCASA for a couple of years & became a fifth generation qualified chartered accountant in 1973. I had the honour of being

LCASA President in 1985/86, LSCA

President in 1994/95 – our 125th Anniversary Year and Chester &

North Wales Chairman in 1998/99.

Finally, I would like to point people towards the 1904 Collage of Accountants superimposed on a photograph of the Main Hall on the first floor of the Liverpool Town Hall.

There are numerous historic LSCA names featured there including many famous names in the history of the LSCA.

To mention a few, Chalmers, Wade, Cook, Blease, Walker, Holt, Denton, Jude, Harmood Banner, Mounsey, Lloyd and so on.

All important & influential names in our 150 Years of Accountancy.

Thank you for listening.

Please support the 150th anniversary celebrations being planned by your committee.