A LONG-SERVING Bromsgrove accountant who helped ensure fair play at the 2012 Olympics is swapping his times tables for table tennis for good.

Martin Clark, 75, has relinquished control of Bromsgrove-based firm Martin G Clark & Co after 40 years at the helm, giving him more time to enjoy the sport he started playing as a teenager.

The businessman has served the sport off the table too with a host of prestigious roles, including being a member of the anti-doping team at London 2012.

Of his move towards retirement, Martin said: "Letting go is hard but it had to happen at some point and it will give me time to pursue the other interests I have.”

He set up the company in February 1980, initially from home, before moving to Aston Fields offices in 1989 and, at last count, the firm provided accountancy services for around 250 local businesses.

The firm has now merged with Cutter & Co Chartered Accountants but Martin will continue to work for the new company on a part-time basis for the next few months to ensure continuity.

Martin said: “Our aim is to ensure clients see very little change but benefit from having access to the wider range of services the combined firms will now be able to provide.

"Emphasis will be place on continuing to provide a modern, efficient and knowledgeable service to all clients."

Now, however, he has one eye on pursuing his passion for table tennis, a sport in which he is a highly-respected figure as an administrative authority on the international stage.

From 2003-2013 he was director and treasurer of the English Table Tennis Association (ETTA) before becoming the ‘financial expert’ for the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU).

In addition, Martin is also a member of the Veterans Committee of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the world’s table tennis governing body.

He remains an active player and will be competing in the World Veterans Championships in Bordeaux in June.

Meanwhile, directors Paul Cutter, Dave Hazlehurst and Kate Jones from Cutter & Co Chartered Accountants will be heading up the merged firm.

Paul Cutter said: “We work with companies and individuals across many sectors and are looking forward to working with the clients of Martin G Clark & Co alongside Martin."