At the end of October The Hearing Company bid farewell to its national resource and recruitment manager who is retiring after 33 years of uninterrupted service.Alan Smith joined the company, then Scrivens Hearing Care, in 1974 as a trainee hearing aid dispenser before swiftly graduating to qualified status and rising through the ranks to regional management level. Peter Worthington, The Hearing Company director, said: "Alan's skills in hearing aid dispensing and approach to customer service helped establish a benchmark for the high standards we still practice today."Peter added: "Alan will be sorely missed by his colleagues and we wish him a very happy, healthy retirement. The company organised a special presentation in recognition of his loyal and dedicated service spanning more than three decades attended by key members of the board."