The End of an Era

Last month we said goodbye to one of our longest-serving employees – and in doing so closed a chapter of KOREC’s history. When Group Financial Controller Helen Palmer (nee Walsh) decided to ‘hang up her abacus’ after 22 years in the business, there ended the last connection to the original…

Last month we said goodbye to one of our longest-serving employees – and in doing so closed a chapter of KOREC’s history.

When Group Financial Controller Helen Palmer (nee Walsh) decided to ‘hang up her abacus’ after 22 years in the business, there ended the last connection to the original founders of Survey Supplies.

A Little History Lesson

Survey Supplies was founded in Liverpool by father and son, George and Graham Walsh in 1967. As with many family enterprises, Helen Walsh, Graham’s daughter and George’s granddaughter, was roped in to assist – working in the finance department as a teenager during her summer holidays.


Helen clearly caught the bug – heading to university to study Maths with statistics, and then training as a Chartered Accountant with a firm in Liverpool.

In 1999 Helen returned to the finance department at Survey Supplies. When Survey Supplies Ireland was established– a brand new enterprise for the company, Helen was tasked with the accounting functions.

One of the most significant changes came in 2005 when current CEO Alan Browne purchased Survey Supplies, and rebranded the organisation to KOREC. Although clearly a significant change for Helen, she confesses that these later years have been the ones she will look back on most fondly.

A Fond Farewell

Never one to miss out on a party, Helen made the decision to retire at the tail end of 2021 – giving the KOREC team plenty of time to plan her farewell party.

The team didn’t disappoint. A night out at Bongo’s Bingo (bingo – but not as you know it!) was enjoyed by the Liverpool office team, although Helen was gutted not to take home the glitterball helmet…

A rather more sedate party was held in the Liverpool office, where the team enjoyed a buffet feast (thank you Rachel!) and an absolutely giant cake, which Helen ceremoniously cut.

Helen will be greatly missed by all who worked with her – not least Finance Director David Hodkinson who singled out her ‘fantastic work and dedication’ during their 16 years as colleagues.

Happily, Helen is based just up the road from the Crosby office, so we expect to be seeing Helen and getting regular updates on her latest golf handicap / caravan holiday escapades!

From all of us at KOREC, we thank you Helen and wish you many happy years on the golf course!