Retirement party

What it is

A send-off to celebrate a long career and the adventures ahead. Colleagues, friends and family share stories, a slideshow and gifts, and help plan the retiree’s bucket list.

Plan ahead

• Four weeks before: book a venue (an office space, a pub function room or home) and send invitations to colleagues past and present.
• Three weeks before: collect photos and messages for a memory book.
• One week before: confirm speakers and the gift.

Ideas

• Career timeline: photos and milestones from first day to last.
• Memory book: messages from colleagues bound into a book.
• Bucket-list jar: guests write suggestions (“learn to sail”, “visit Japan”).
• “Retirement survival kit”: a hammock, a travel guide, a crossword book, golf balls - funny but useful.

Food and drink

• Buffet or canapés
• A toast with fizz
• A cake with a deckchair or a “Gone fishing” sign

Tips

• Keep speeches to three people, 3 minutes each.
• Invite former colleagues - they often make the best stories.