August 2004

Fizz and chips as Winchester firm celebrates 20 years

Winchester-based public relations consultants, Hallmark PR, has celebrated its 20 th birthday on with a fish, chips and champagne party held at Winchester Cathedral's refectory.

Clients, partners and other guests were invited to join Directors and staff in celebrating the consultancy's birthday with a special reference to its beginnings - 20 years ago.

Helen Symes, Director of Hallmark PR said: “We decided to celebrate with a fish and chips party because Hallmark PR began its life above a fish and chip shop in Basingstoke in 1984.

Helen added: “But just to ensure that the evening was as unhealthy as possible, guests were also offered a large slice of birthday cake for dessert!”

Mike Kean, Head of Communications at Mott MacDonald, has been a client of Hallmark Public Relations in his current and previous roles for 17 years. He said: "The public relations industry achieves the success it does because of the high calibre of staff it employs. Hallmark PR fall into this category. They are a very professional company and it has been a pleasure working with them for all this time. I congratulate them for reaching their 20th anniversary and wish them every continued success in the future”

Soon after its launch in Basingstoke, Hallmark PR moved to Winchester and spent time in different offices in the city before settling at Canister House in Jewry Street, where it has been based for the last nine years.

In February 2003 the company underwent a management buy out when Managing Director, Tom Watson returned to his home in Australia to take up a teaching post. The three Directors, Helen Symes, Steve Osborne-Brown and Steve Wilson now own the company.