Tax in our Time

Going down the tax memory lane

Tax, as we all know, has been around a long time and shows no sign of disappearing from our environment. But what may disappear are memories and experiences of tax – views and knowledge that would contribute to our understanding of aspects of today’s system. Plus, of course, the insights of the many leading practitioners who are members of CIOT and ATT are, not to put too fine a point on it, Quite Interesting! Conducted by John Whiting, each interview is around 20 minutes of fascinating anecdotes, insights and historical detail.

We would welcome feedback on the project and would be delighted to hear from anyone who would be willing to do a film and so share their memories of tax. Please contact Helen Whiteman at [email protected].

Bruce Sutherland

Bruce Sutherland is the share valuer's share valuer – the man who effectively invented the specialism. Here he looks back on his long and varied career and tells John Whiting how he developed into a valuer – and gives some insights into his methods for getting to the right figure.

Richard Mannion

How did Working Together start? Richard Mannion, who was so instrumental in establishing Working Together, tells John Whiting how it got going and reflects on some key successes – and how it is still needed today.

John Andrews

John Whiting talks to John Andrews about his early career in HMRC and in practice and some of the tax issues he dealt with. John Andrews then reflects on the drivers for founding LITRG, how it has evolved - and whether it will always be needed.

Leonard Beighton

In conversation with John Whiting, Leonard Beighton looks back at the Inland Revenue he joined in the late 1950s and how it changed and developed in his time with the organisation.

Nigel Eastaway

Nigel Eastaway is one of the most respected tax practitioners in the business, with a long career to look back on. He started in the tax profession in 1960 and is still going strong as a partner with MacIntyre Hudson. Here John Whiting talks to Nigel about aspects of his career, in particular the introduction and impact of taxes on capital gains: a seminal time in the development of the tax system and an area that remains a particular focus for Nigel in his ongoing tax career.

Erica Stary

Erica Stary has had a long and varied career in the tax world, starting out by qualifying as a solicitor in a small Lancashire firm and being influenced towards a tax career by reading Taxation. Here she talks to John Whiting about some of the barriers she had to overcome which included people suggesting that as men found tax hard, surely a mere girl couldn’t manage! She also explains the difference between Urgent and Immediate at the Inland Revenue, reflects on being the Institute’s first technical officer and whether it’s easier in the tax profession now than when she started.

John Kimmer

John Kimmer reflects on his life in tax first in the Inland Revenue then in professional practice and finally at ATT.

John Avery Jones

Retired Upper Tribunal Judge John Avery Jones CBE reflects on his involvement as a member of the important Keith Committee back in the 1980s.

Roy Jennings

Founder Master Roy Jennings looks back over the formation of the then Guild of Tax Advisers, and its path to becoming The Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers.