ABD PARTNER ELECTED NEW PRESIDENT OF THE GLOUCESTER AND WILTSHIRE LAW SOCIETY!

UNANIMOUS VOTE!

Recently, at the AGM of the Gloucester and Wiltshire Law Society, ABD Partner Roger Chadwick was elected to become the new President. The term of office commences January 2012 and runs for 18 months. Roger is based at the ABD offices in Devizes, Wiltshire and is already working hard and on the case.

Roger Chadwick "as pleased as punch" to be elected.

Roger who has been on the committee for 2 years already is really excited about his new role of becoming President in 2012.

Did you know that there are approximately 2000 solicitors in the Gloucester and Wiltshire area?

CHANGES ON THE WAY!

Roger plans to make some significant changes to the way the Gloucester and Wilts operates....

He has already started to actively recruit sponsors which has created really good interest and is working very well.

He is also looking for new members, in particular social members who can attend social networking development functions to not only develop their own businesses, but to also promote the Law Society in becoming a more accessible body.

ALSO..

Roger has invited the Legal Ombudsman for England and Wales Adam Sampson to attend Bowood Golf and Country Club, Calne, Near Chippenham in September 2011 to talk to solicitors about the role of the legal ombudsman and the changing complaints structure.

Adam Sampson was previously Chief Executive of "Shelter" the country's leading housing and homeless charity before he became chief Legal Ombudsman for England and Wales.

The legal ombudsman was established by the Office for Legal Complaints. It is an independant consumer focused ombudsman scheme set up to resolve complaints to members of the public, businesses, charities and trusts about lawyers in England and Wales in a fair and independant way without taking sides.

Keep posted and up to date with a follow on from this blog for the results of the this important exciting meeting and how Roger gets on.

AN EXTREMELY EVENTFUL DAY COURTESY OF HAMPTONS INTERNATIONAL!

GATCOMBE PARK INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS....

A day to be remembered between sunshine and rain showers- we had an extremely enjoyable day!

ABD Partner Andrew Douglas and his wife Keshani were invited by Andrew Marshall who is Regional Sales Director of Hamptons International to the Festival of British Eventing presented by Gatcombe Park on Sunday 7 August 2011.

The morning started off by meeting other invitees in the Event Hospitality Marquee for coffee, danish pastries and a "catch up" followed by a visit to the trade stand area...

TRADE STANDS GALORE!

YOU WOULD HAVE A FIELD DAY SHOPPING!

From equestrian kit to cashmere clothing. Accessories for dogs to classy picnic hampers and Jacuzzis - it was all there. The Flying Fox provided country & sporting gift collections. The Sock Company Country supplied hosiery for town and country. Of course there was Dubarry of Ireland and Landrover UK. Henry Hunt sold luxury county clothing with height of fashion twist! Whilst Chatham Marine Ltd - one of of the UK's leading marine footwear and clothing brands were "on hand" too. These were just to name but a few trade stands there. The area was packed full of happy shoppers with their dogs in toe! It was a serious shoppers area.

A delicious lunch was served at 12.00 noon which Andrew and Keshani enjoyed followed by welcome and presentation on cross-country course by Captain Mark Phillips.

Princess Anne and her husband also attended lunch and Princess Anne's Son Peter Phillips who came to say hello along with Harry Mead (Richard Meads son).

After lunch the show jumping had just finished and it was time for Zara Phillips to say goodbye to her all time favourite horse "Toytown". Her husband Mike Tindall was there as well as her mother Princess Anne and brother Peter Phillips to watch Toytown in the ring for the last time before he retires - what a beautiful horse he is.




Mike Tindall with Princess Anne watching
Zara Phillips and Toytown.










Zara Phillips and Toytown.





Shetland Pony Grand National was a fun event. The ponies are only 40" high and the jockeys no older than 13 years of age.

DRESSAGE TO MUSIC WAS A MUST TO SEE..

Dressage to music has become hugely popular since its inception as part of the Olympic Dressage programme at the Atlantic Olympics in 1996 and is known as the musical kur. The rider chooses music that fits the paces and personality of themselves and their horse, and they put together a kur that includes all the movements of the Grand Prix. They can ride the movements in any sequence and the more difficult the sequence, the higher the mark - the test is marked 50% for technical merit and 50% for artistic merit.

Such an impressive sight to see. The horse looks so elegant and graceful as it moves in time to the music.

Afternoon tea was served at 4.00pm with delicious cakes and sandwiches.

TOP OF THE RANGE RANGE ROVER.

A tour of Gatcombe Park was a definite on the agenda - especially in a top of the range Range Rover!

Gatcombe Park





AREA ATTRACTIONS.

The falconry display was an impressive event. The children as well as adults were enthralled with watching these huge birds of prey with their enormous wing spans flying around.

-Winner of British Eventing Open Championship was Andrew Nicolson who rode on Nereo. Score 29.9.

-Winner of Smith & Williamson British Intermediate Championship was Angus Smales on Clover hero. Score 32.5.

Next year this festival will be moved forward a month so as not to clash with the 2012 Olympic Games.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable day out and thank you so much to Andrew Marshall and the Hamptons team for inviting us.

NO ARGY BARGY WITH ABD LITIGATION TEAM!

ABD LITIGATION DEPARTMENT ANNUAL DAY OUT!

The morning started dull, grey and muggy - almost slightly stormy but the tough Litigation Team didnt care, they were out to enjoy their day come rain or come shine....

Hilperton Marina, Trowbridge was the starting point where they divided into 2 groups and climbed on to their chosen barges which they had hired for the day.

Right then, who is going to be captain? Peter Shah or Peter Johnson? or both?

(front left and right Peter Shah and Peter Johnson).

After a brief litigious lesson on how to steer, health and safety, man over board situation, etc etc, off they went. They were heading for the Brewery Inn at Seend Cleeve for lunch along the picturesque Kennet and Avon Canal.

This is a trip that they have been doing annually and is in its 6th year! Gillian Ephgrave based at Devizes Office has always organised it.

"It is a thoroughly relaxing day and everybody really enjoys it"

Come on Peter, hurry up, we are waiting. We havent got all day!

Ok ,ok this is a tough job for a litigator!

The journey started around 10 ish and the leisurely trip took about 2/3 hours to get to the Brewery Inn. En route, it rained, but nobody cared because they were hungry and had reached their destination. After mooring up. It was time to eat and good food was enjoyed by all.

Tasty food at the Brewery Inn.

The Brewery Inn was originally 2 cottages built in 1847 and converted into an inn in 1859. The name Brewery Inn was first mentioned in 1866. It is a good stop off for canal faring day trippers.

ABD Team; Sue Tristram, Rachael Faraday, April Philo, Cheryl Bishop, Andrew Douglas, Gillian Ephgrave, Sharon Mann, Frances Nash, Peter Shah,Tim Hotchkiss, Tom Paget and Peter Johnson outside the Brewery Inn, Seend Cleeve.
(from left to right)

After lunch, the sun looked as though it was trying to come out but it was still very muggy and grey. The canal was busy being height of season and lots of barges about.

That lunch was very filling, shall we walk back to Hilperton or phone for 2 barges?

After boarding the flat bottomed vessels it wasn't time to hit the deck, but it was time to return to Hilperton Marina again.

The picturesque Kennet and Avon Canal.

Tom Paget and Tim Hotchkiss chatting and enjoying themselves suddenly remembered what happened last year- somebody dropped the key into the canal by accident!! Shall we pretend its happened again for a laugh? Ok maybe not then.

Tim Hotchkiss and Tom Paget having a laugh.

(left to right).

The team finally reached their destination - Hilperton Marina where they moored up and said their farewells, see you tomorrow for another tough day in the office.

Back to where they started.

No doubt Gillian will be booking the same for next year as once again, they had such an enjoyable day.

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.