Alastair Shepherd, Ross Mackay and Louise Williams between them had worked for Coulters and its parent firm, Henderson & Jackson WS and HBJ Gateley Wareing, for a period in excess of 81 years. Honoured guests at the dinner, along with their spouses, were Douglas Hunter (ex-HBJ and Morton Fraser) and Wilson Browne (Coulters).

Mr Shepherd, who now runs the Scottish Barony Register, recalled starting at Henderson & Jackson in 1988 at their then premises at 19 Ainslie Place. Ms Williams, however, trumped him by reminding the party that she had served her apprenticeship with the same firm in 1978.

Coulters started as a boutique estate agency in 2013, but in May 2016 it was taken over by the partners of HBJ Property, who kept the effective brand and name of Coulters. The trio brought their considerable expertise and client following to the new venture. As well as Edinburgh property, Coulters also specialised in rural and agricultural matters and barony work.

Mr Shepherd and Ms Williams recalled their socially distanced retirement picnic in the grounds of Edinburgh Park, where the Coulters office was then located. A promise was made at the time to celebrate their retirement in style in the post-Covid era, which was only realised last week.

Mr Mackay, the legendary midwife of the Standard Clauses and Edinburgh Conveyancers Forum, retired a year later.

Although the three former partners remain in close touch with each other, their geographical locations (Arduaine, Haddington and South Uist) make reunions tricky to coordinate.