Welcome Lydia Jackson

Solicitor - Family Law Department, ABD Marlborough Office

Lydia joined the firm recently as a Family Law Solicitor Advocate based at ABD’s Marlborough office.

Lydia previously worked for Charles Gomez & Co Chambers in Gibraltar where she set up the Family Law Department and attracted a varied case load including international and high net worth clients.  Lydia was also a member of the Bar of Gibraltar and frequently advocated at Court.

Prior to Gibraltar, Lydia trained and worked at a specialist Matrimonial and Family Law firm in London from 2008 to 2013 where she worked exclusively on high profile cases involving a variety of family matters including cross jurisdictional divorces, pre and post nuptial agreements and matters relating to financial remedy and property settlement, non-molestation and occupation orders and issues involving children. During this time Lydia also gained her qualification as a Solicitor Advocate with the College of Law (London) and has higher rights of audience in the UK.

Lydia Jackson, Family Solicitor

Lydia can be contacted for a free initial consultation regarding matrimonial issues on
01672 518620 or lydia.jackson@awdrys.co.uk 

INFIDELITY AND THE EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE

Chapman University have recently undertaken the largest study to date on the matter of infidelity and the results have concluded that men and women are very different when it comes to feelings of jealousy and their responses to sexual vs emotional infidelity.

The poll reviewed just under 64,000 Americans and found that heterosexual men were more likely than heterosexual women to be most upset by sexual infidelity (54 percent of men vs. 35 percent of women) and less likely than heterosexual women to be most upset by emotional infidelity (46 percent of men vs. 65 percent of women). The study also determined that both bisexual and homosexual men and women did not significantly differ in their responses to infidelity.

The university states “Participants imagined what would upset them more: their partners having sex with someone else (but not falling in love with them) or their partners falling in love with someone else (but not having sex with them).”

David Frederick, Ph.D, the lead author of the study outlined that “heterosexual men really stand out from all other groups: they were the only ones who were much more likely to be most upset by sexual infidelity rather than emotional infidelity” which was “consistent with the evolutionary perspective”.

The issue of sexual and emotional infidelity can cause harm to both men and women. Dr. Frederick states “The responses of men and women to the threat of infidelity range from intense pangs of jealousy to elaborate displays of attention to woo their partner back. Jealousy can also trigger harmful and violent behavior…” 

Chapman University outline that from an evolutionary perspective, men face the problem of paternal uncertainty as, in the absence of paternity testing, they will never know if their child is genetically related to them and there is always the chance that the child could have been fathered by another man. Women who bear children will never face maternal uncertainty and therefore men may exhibit a heightened response to sexual jealously compared to women.

However the university also stated that “whilst women do not face maternal uncertainty they risk the potential loss of resources and commitment from partners if they channel their investment to another mate.”

Consistent with evolutionary perspective, one’s reaction to sexual versus emotional infidelity is likely shaped by environmental and personal factors, however, this gender difference emerged across the age groups.

In England and Wales “adultery” is the act of sexual intercourse between a man and a women where at least one of the two are married. Adultery can be used as one of the five facts to prove the irretrievable breakdown of a marriage, which is required to obtain a Divorce in this Jursidiction.

The authors of the study were Dr. David Frederick of Chapman University and Melissa Fales, Ph.D. candidate of UCLA with the paper appearing in the journal, Archives of Sexual Behavior.

http://blogs.chapman.edu/press-room/2015/01/05/chapman-university-publishes-research-on-jealousy-impact-of-sexual-vs-emotional-infidelity/

If you are facing difficulties in relation to marriage and / or your spouse’s infidelity, please do not hesitate to contact Lydia Jackson at our Marlborough office on 01672 518620 or click here for email to set up a free initial consultation.

ABD helps Age UK Wiltshire “Spread The Warmth Campaign 2014”

Age UK Wiltshire was most grateful to receive a cheque from Awdry Bailey & Douglas Solicitors today.....

ABD partner and Head of Family Law Dept Alex David handed over a cheque to Mike Weston who is Chair of Trustees at Age UK Wiltshire for the sum of £643.75.  The money was raised by ABD through a sponsorship team building event which took place earlier on in the year.

Mike Weston said; “We at Age UK Wiltshire are most grateful to ABD for supporting our charity.  The money raised will go towards our “Spread The Warmth Campaign” which is one of the most important campaigns we run each year during the winter months. The money raised will assist this campaign greatly. During winter 1 older person dies every 7 minutes from the cold weather”.

Alexander David, Partner at ABD and Head of the Family Law Department said;

“Everyone at ABD are proud to be associated with Age UK Wiltshire which is an invaluable charity, assisting hundreds of elderly people at their time of need.  We are pleased that the funds raised will assist with the Spread the Warmth Campaign which assists elderly people to stay fit and well and warm during the winter months”.

Age UK Wiltshire an independent charity working for the older people of Wiltshire.

Left to right; Mike Weston and Alexander David outside Age UK Wiltshire Offices, Devizes

For more information on SPREAD THE WARMTH go to www.ageuk.org.uk/wiltshire 

AWDRY BAILEY & DOUGLAS “DRESS DOWN” DAY SUPPORTS DEVIZES FOODBANK AND THE TRUSSELL TRUST!

On Friday 28th November 2014 staff at Awdry Bailey & Douglas   held a “dress down” day to raise food for local charity Devizes Foodbank.

Food collected from the firms Chippenham, Marlborough, Devizes and Royal Wootton Bassett offices included; tinned fruit, UHT milk, biscuits, tea, coffee, tinned meat, sugar and much more! 

With less than a month to go until Christmas some staff even wore their festive jumpers for this important and worthy cause.  Over 100kg of food was donated!

Over 100kg of food was donated! It’s the taking part that counts!

The Devizes Foodbank is part of a network run by The Trussell Trust who manage community projects in partnership with local churches and organisations helping to support those in need by bringing foodbanks to communities across the UK. There are now over 380 foodbanks in the network. 

To find out more about your local foodbank and to get involved visit The Trussell Trust. 

For a shopping list of foods that can be donated click here. 

ABD TEAM FLYING HIGH AT BARBURY CASTLE!

Congratulations to ABD team; Roger Chadwick (partner), Tim Hotchkiss (solicitor) & James Trescothick-Martin (solicitor) for beating off the other teams to win the “Brewin Dolphin, inter solicitor clay pigeon challenge” which took place at Barbury Castle Shooting School on 14 November 2014.

In a closely fought completion ABD team came top missing only 3 Clay’s out of 60, nearest rivals Wilsons Solicitors missing 6 Clay’s to give ABD the magnanimous win.

Roger Chadwick came second in the individual competition narrowly missing out on the top position by 1 clay.

It is the first time that ABD have won the annual event hosted by Brewin Dolphin.

AWDRY BAILEY & DOUGLAS WERE PROUD TO PRESENT...

BAG4SPORT “2014 STARS OF TOMORROW” AWARDS

Bag4Sport Foundation was set up to assist young up-and-coming talented athletes who find it difficult to raise finance in order to promote themselves.  This charity also assists established athletes suffering financially following government cuts as well as disadvantaged children who would like to take part in sport and improve their social skills.

“They will rise highest who strive for the highest place”  

The competition was promoted this year by the Gazette and Herald and also the Wiltshire Times who looked for 5 local young sports stars of tomorrow. 

The 5 young local talented athletics chosen received their awards gathered with their families on Thursday 30 October 2014 in The Bear Hotel, Devizes – this was an exciting moment...

The evening started off with an introduction and welcome from Founder and Chairman of Bag4Sport Foundation Andrew Trusler, followed by the awards ceremony.

ABD Partner Andrew Douglas, local contemporary artist Joanna May and Jason Caulfield-Ware were part of the judging panel who handed out the awards.

Andrew Trusler who is Founder and Chairman of Bag4Sport welcoming everyone to the event

ABD Partner Andrew Douglas, local contemporary artist Joanna May and Jason Caulfield-Ware who were part of the judging panel handed out the awards.

Andrew Douglas congratulates and handing certificates to Winner Nikko Hunt- Pole Vaulting and runner up Caitlin Wosika - Team Bath.

This was followed by gold medallist and Bag4Sport patron Tessa Sanderson congratulating the winners and runners up by Skype.

Winners and runners up were as follows;

Devizes Winner:
Yasmin Kaashoek - Devizes Volleyball Club 

Devizes Runner Up:
Adam Bolwell - Devizes Budo Club

Marlborough Joint Winners: 
Alicia Boyer - Oxford Figure Skating Club
Nikko Hunt - Pole Vaulting 

North Wilts Winner:
Lauren Booth - Cycling

North Wilts Runner Up:
 Jamie Phillips - BMX

North Wilts Runner Up: 
Peter Kibble - Road Cycling

Nominated by Wiltshire Times Readers:

Winners:
Jade Pocock - Archery
Ria Oliver - Trampolining and Double Mini Trampolining

Runners up:
Ben Garrod - Hockey
Caitlin Wosika - Team Bath

SPLITZ SUPPORT SERVICE CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY...

Awdry Bailey and Douglas Solicitor Cindy Ervine, congratulates Splitz Support Service of which she is a trustee on its 25th anniversary.

Splitz is a charity based in Wiltshire providing support to families, individuals, and children/young people who have experienced difficulty, where that difficulty is related to separation, divorce or domestic abuse and their associated issues. 

The charity was founded in 1989 as a project providing services in West Wiltshire and around the Devizes and Chippenham areas.  In 1993 the project was registered as a charity called the Single Parent Family Association. In 1997 the charity changed its name to Splitz Parenting Alone Support Service.  The name was shortened to Splitz Support Service in 2005 in recognition of the support Splitz provides to people with a much wider range of issues.

Cindy who is a family solicitor based at Awdry Bailey & Douglas Devizes office often refers clients to the charity to ensure they can receive additional support during an often difficult time. 

Splitz provides a range of services to male and female victims of domestic abuse, children and young people who have been affected by domestic abuse and male perpetrators of domestic abuse. We also provide a mentoring/befriending service to people who are parenting alone and floating support services to people with housing related issues.

For more information about Splitz please either contact Cindy or go to www.splitz.org