Graham Acus, Hunter’s Longest Serving Director Retires.
Graham, who joined Hunters back in the late seventies has decided to step down and take retirement. He has led our Building Surveying team through thousands of projects with many clients mainly in the housing sector. Highly respected and famously affable, Graham has been an essential part of the Hunters DNA and a leading consultant in the industry.
Graham left school at 16 and joined the GLC (for those who are younger, this was the Greater London Council which is similar to what is now called the GLA). The GLC sponsored him though an ONC in Building Construction and passing with a distinction it was evident he would fly through a degree. He had to wait a couple of years though, as the new Surveying Degree Course had only just been launched and South Bank Polytechnic had a two-year waiting list, not content on sitting around, he completed an HNC whilst waiting for his place and working.
When he completed his degree, he was told he needed a breadth of work under his collar which the GLC were not offering, he was initially offered a job in another London surveying practice before joining Hunters (only Surveyors in those days) as a Graduate Surveyor. In 1990 Graham was promoted to Director (so that’s 33 years in the position). At the time there were basically no female surveyors in the industry – a change he has welcomed and looks forward to it being 50:50.
We asked Graham about some of the highs.
‘My favourite project?’ he questioned ‘Well, there are two; the conversion of St Wilfred’s Church in Brighton to 26 flats which was covered in Building Magazine and Oxford Radcliffe key worker accommodation, both were challenging but very rewarding jobs.’
But one of the best moves at Hunters? ‘Well, I did something life changing once, and when I look back, I’m surprised I did it, but my first date with my wife was a Hunters Christmas party at the age of 24 – I didn’t know her, I’d met her very briefly at a colleagues wedding a couple of weeks before… anyway it worked and we have been together for over 40 years.’
Kate Henry-Aston Chair added ‘Graham was my first manager at Hunters when I joined as a graduate. I was amazed at how much he knew about construction and his genuine support, he has been a constant in the business and we will miss him.’
Mark Baines, MD added ‘Everyone is wishing Graham all the best for his travels, and we all thank him for everything he has done for Hunters over a very long and successful career, he will be missed. If you have any Building Surveying enquiries then these can be directed to Guy Chapman, Director who is taking the reins in the team.’
Everyone at Hunters wish you all the best and look forward to hearing about your travels and future endeavours.
