b'A challenging timeIn July 1885 Allen & Allen was rocked by the sudden deathold and yet to complete his articles. He was admitted as of Sir George Wigram Allen, followed by the death ofa solicitor and became a partner in 1886, a year after his his brother Arthur Mansfield Allen three weeks later.father died. Arthur was the senior partner for the next This left Reginald Charles Allen, Wigrams son, the onlyfifty-five years. remaining partner. Arthur knew he needed assistance. He wrote to his brother Reginald was twenty-seven years old when he became theGeorge Boyce Allen in England, asking him to find a suitable head of the firm. It was never a position he wanted. Whileaccountant for the office. George engaged John Lyon, who he remained a partner of the firm for fifty- eight years, hearrived in 1888 and maintained the books for the next was far more interested in cricket and horse racing. In thesixty-five years, becoming part of the fabric of the firmyears following his fathers death, Reginald pursued his loveuntil his retirement in 1953 at the age of ninety-t hree.of cricket and played for Australia in a test match against England in 1887. However, his aspirations for a test careerArthur also bolstered the partnership by promoting two exceeded his abilities and he found more success with hissolicitors at the firm to partnership, George Colquhoun and equine pursuits. The Reginald Allen Quality, a handicap raceArchibald Friend. They were soon joined by Ernest Smith. at Royal Randwick, continues to honour his contribution toTogether with Arthur, they steered the firm through this Australian horse racing.challenging period and ensured it was able to maintain its position as a leading Australian law firm.Responsibility for running the firm fell to Reginalds younger brother, Arthur Wigram Allen. He was twenty-three years 56'