ABD OFFICES IN CALNE OVERSEES BIG BIKERS CONVENTION ORGANISED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF CALNE...

Photo taken from Harrison Court.

The unmistakably impressive pink coloured office building belonging to ABD in Calne (dating back to 1740) stands proudly "surveying" the Calne Rotary Club Motorcycle Meet which took place on Saturday 23 July 2011 throughout the busy town of Calne.

This annual charity event is in its 11th year and attracts thousands of bikers to the town.

ABD team Halina Tomlinson, KJ, Tim Hotchkiss, Joe Phelan , Tom Paget, Peter Johnson and Catherine Cole took time out to man the ABD Stand in the centre of Calne had a great day. WHY? The team are big motorbike enthusiasts! Take for example KJ;-

ABD Team Halina Tomlinson, Tom Paget, Tim Hotchkiss and Joe Phelan.

(left to right).

KJ has been interested in motor bikes since her late teens and used to watch bike racing. Her dad also owned a BSA.

KJ has owned 3 bikes. She started with a Hyosung Cruise 11 124cc (which she called Tom) whilst she was learning to ride. She then progressed to a Honda CBR400 NC23 (which she called Ollie).

When she moved to Devizes with her husband Paul (also a bike enthusiast) she decided with Pauls encouragement that it was time to get another bike so she purchased a Honda CBF 500 (which she calls Biggles) and currently owns. They have never looked back! Both KJ and Paul have been to lots of bike shows throughout the country.

Paul is involved with online radio station BIKERSfm and presents a show on a Monday night based around British Superbike, World Superbike Championship and Support Series which involves interviewing bikers from both British and World Stage.

KJ with her Honda CBF 500 affectionally known as "Biggles".

BIKES, TRIKES AND MORE BIKES!

Trike on show which is available for hire.

Calne main high street.

MARLBOROUGH JAZZ FESTIVAL 2011

ABD SPONSORS MARLBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
15, 16 AND 17 JULY 2011!

In the words of the Sunday Telegraph, "each year the exquisite market town of Marlborough becomes a mini New Orleans".

Marlborough Jazz celebrating its 25th anniversary got off to a FANTASTIC start...

Friday 15th July saw the opening of the festival at 6pm outside the Castle and Ball Hotel. ABD Partner Andrew Douglas and his wife Keshani were invited to an evening reception hosted by Wiltshire Life Magazine at The Merchant's House, High Street, Marlborough.

ABD Solicitors Alex David, Wayne Elliott, David Kelshall and Tom Paget (Trainee Solicitor)enjoyed a "lads night out" with guests. They ended their evening in the ABD Priory Marquee listening to The Red Stripe Band - "the closest thing to Jools Holland and his Big Band". Marlborough Jazz Brochure.




A good night out hosting guests!
The ABD Priory Marquee was packed out!





Saturday 16th July ABD Partner Andrew Douglas and his wife Keshani were invited by Brewin Dolphin Stockbrokers (lead Sponsor of the event) to attend a private lunch party and listen to
music played by winner of Brewin Dolphin Best Newcomer 2010.

ABD Partner Roger Chadwick and Susan Fosbery enjoyed listening to the sounds of anglo-american group "Protect the Beat" in the ABD Priory Marquee followed by Robin Jones & King Salsa! Frances Ruffelle Show and Jive Aces completed the evening.




Robin Jones & King Salsa - fantastic foot tapping, hip swaying music.





Saturday night was a busy one at the ABD Priory Marquee. 1000 people were inside the tent listening to music with another 400+ people queu'ing to get in!

A Summers Day in the Priory Marquee....

Sunday 17 July 2011.

Marlborough International Jazz ended on a lazy Sunday afternoon with a packed out audience of about 450 or more people enjoying the lovely voice of Clare Teal - "a megastar of contemporary British jazz ". Marlborough Jazz Brochure.














A Full house of people in the ABD Priory Marquee!


As Chris Jagger put it, "normally we play in a place and clear off, but at Marlborough we meet old and new friends year by year".






ABD Partner Andrew Douglas, Peter Johnson, (ABD) Clare Teal, Nick Fogg (Chairman of Marlborough Jazz Committee) and Tom Paget (ABD).
(from left to right).





The weather wasn't bad either!!

A TOUGH MATCH!

The Wiltshire Golf Club hosted the ABD Ryder Cup against Strakers Estate Agents on 12 July 2011. A competitive and compelling afternoon was enjoyed by all! At the end of the day the magic number was 155 which was the points tally accumulated by Strakers as against ABD's 151.

ABD v STRAKERS - a tough match!





ABD Players.









Strakers players.






The ABD captain for the day was ABD partner Peter Shah who presented his opposite number Guy Straker with the prestigious cup which will be competed for again this time next year.





Peter Shah presenting ABD/Straker Ryder Cup to Guy Straker.





The day began with bacon butties and coffee and was finished off with an evening meal consisting of gammon and chips followed by sticky toffee pudding!

A good time was had by all with both the triumph and congratulations going to Strakers Estate Agents.

NEW RECRUIT FOR ABD MARLBOROUGH!

A big welcome to David Kelshall who started 1st June 2011!

David has joined our Marlborough Office as a probate solicitor within the private client department. He will be responsible to David Sutton (private client partner) and is representing "the way forward".

He will be dealing with wills, tax and trusts.

SPONSORED SOLELY BY ABD.....

ROCK LEGENDARY GROUP

THE YARDBIRDS

IN SUPPORT OF DEVIZES FESTIVAL

Does everybody know the Yardbirds legend? Aficionados of pop music will of course be familiar with this legendary groups history. Not naming any names of course..... Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja??? This band set the template for groups like Cream, Jeff Beck Group and Led Zeppelin (originally the New Yardbirds)...

"Everybody knows the Yardbirds legend, if not their music. By introducing Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page to the world, the band set the template not only for Cream, the Jeff Beck Group and Led Zeppelin (originally the New Yardbirds), but also for virtually every rock group featuring distortion, feedback and in-your-face electric-guitar virtuosity." (Devizes Festival Programme).

ABD have been both a lead and now a main sponsor of the Devizes Festival for a number of years. This year is the Festivals 30th anniversary - an event that ABD are proud to be associated with.

Last night, one of the Festivals biggest events so far, sponsored solely by ABD, The Yardbirds played in Devizes famous Corn Exchange which provided a throwback to the middle and late 60's when many famous groups played there including The Who.

ABD Partners Peter Shah, Tony Awdry, Roger Chadwick, Alistair Everett and Andrew Douglas with legendary group!

Guests were invited by personal invitation to the event last night to enjoy drinks and canapes at The Bear Hotel, Devizes followed by the opportunity to see the Yardbirds performing live.

Drinks and canapes at The Bear Hotel, Devizes

The reformed band founding members Jim McCarty (drums and backing vocals), Chris Dreja (rhythm guitarist, backing vocals) were joined by fantastic guitarists Ben King, Andy Mitchell and David Smale.

"The evening will feature The Yardbirds famous back catalogue and quite a few surprises as well". (Devizes Festival programme)

Most famous hits and recordings included "for your love" (first single to go gold), "good morning school girl", "over under sideways down", "heart full of soul", and "I wish you would".

The Corn Exchange was packed! Feet were tapping! people were dancing and swaying to the beat of the music! Everybody had a really great time!

ABD'S 2011 AGM

" No looking backwards only face forwards."

ABD's Annual General Meeting took place in the Town Hall, Devizes on 19th May 2011.

The meeting started at 11.25 am finishing at 1.05pm with a lunch to round the meeting off.

The presenting partner Andrew Douglas reviewed a solid performance for the year 2010-2011. This was followed by a review of ABD's history extending back some 260 years with a look at some of the firm's famous clients.

The second half of the meeting concentrated on the exciting and potentially rewarding challenges ahead and a detailed look at the firms strategy going forwards. This strategy had at its centre point client care and the requirement by everybody employed by ABD to meet "client's needs and exceed expectation".

The meeting finished with everybody looking forward to the new year and the challenges ahead.

PASSED WITH A DISTINCTION

SOLICITOR IN THE MAKING!

Many congratulations goes to Tim Hotchkiss who took an ILEX Land Law exam earlier in the month and passed with a "distinction"!

Tim works at ABD'S Wootton Bassett office and is a legal executive for the Litigation Team. His work primarily covers personal injury work and other consumer problems.

Tim has one more exam to take and if successful, as expected, he will start his training to become a solicitor.

Tim is star - well done Tim!