CHRIS Macey, senior partner of Salisbury accountants Fletcher & Partners, hosted a party at the city's Medieval Hall for more than 100 clients and business contacts to celebrate the firm's 103rd birthday.

Mr Macey, who trained with KPMG and joined Fletcher & Partners in 1972, has taken over from Giles Fletcher as senior partner and announced this at the party.

He said: "I am delighted to be taking on this new role of senior partner. Over the past 25 years the firm has seen considerable expansion and modernisation and I look forward to this continuing.

"My first priority is to review the services we offer and make sure these continue to meet clients' ever-changing needs.

"I also want to draw attention to the specialist skills and expertise offered by our well-qualified and experienced team of seven partners and staff."

This is the firm time that the firm has appointed a senior partner who is not from the Fletcher family.