HAPPY TO LIVE IN DEVIZES!

ABD PARTNER ROGER CHADWICK PASSES COMMENT...

Devizes Community Area Partnership (DCAP) is a body which links local government with local businesses, the community and statutory bodies such as the police and NHS.

One of the Partnerships aims is to create a Strategic Area Plan for the Devizes Community Area and to set out what services and facilities will be needed over the next 15 years.  For example how many schools, roads, hospitals, sports facilities etc will be required.

LIVING IN THE DEVIZES AREA

In order to gauge people’s needs, DCAP sent out a questionnaire to 11,500 households in the Devizes Community Area and to their surprise received 3,000 responses back!

Because the response was such a positive one, not only did  the local press write an article about it but also ITV wanted to do a short interview.

ABD Partner, Roger Chadwick who is Chairman of DCAP agreed to the interview which took place at ABD’s Devizes offices recently.

ROGERS THOUGHTS?

 

To see the interview and hear what Roger had to say about Devizes;

Follow the link

http://www.itv.com/westcountry-east/happy-to-live-in-devizes56925/

For more information about Devizes Community Area Partnership (DCAP)

Follow the link

www.dcap.org.uk

WILL PLANNING – ONLINE ASSETS.

“Pass on your digital footprint in a will, urge lawyers”.                                   (The Times, October 12 2011).

ABD is to start actively encouraging their clients when making a Will to decide on what they would like to do with their web based assets and “online life”.

In the same way that clients keep details of their investments, bank accounts, savings and assets etc, ABD will start to advise and recommend that clients keep details of their “online life and assets” to incorporate into their wills.

Many social networks, email providers and online account companies depending on their terms and conditions either grant differing levels of access, or refuse to disclose usernames/passwords/logins etc altogether to the next of kin, making it extremely difficult for them to access, deal with and close the deceased accounts.

ENTRUSTING YOUR PASSWORDS.

Clients are now starting to realise that by leaving details of their passwords/usernames/logins etc of their online accounts in their wills, it makes it much easier for their next of kin to have access and to deal with these accounts after death in the necessary way with help and advice from their solicitor.

For more information or making a will please contact either;-

- Catherine Cole (Calne Office). 
  catherine.cole@awdrys.co.uk

- Lynnette Hilliard (Royal Wootton Bassett Office).
  lynnette.hilliard@awdrys.co.uk  

- David Kelshall (Marlborough Office).  
  david.kelshall@awdrys.co.uk

- Naomi Hill (Devizes Office).
   naomi.hill@awdrys.co.uk

MAKING A WILL ONLINE?

Start making a Will with our simple online form.    click here

A WARM WELCOME TO…

Janice Leyland who has recently started in ABD’s Family Law Department.

Janice is married with 2 grown up children and previously worked for a law firm based in Gloucestershire where she specialised in family law.

Her role within ABD is to assist in the steady development of this very busy vibrant department which is based at the Devizes office. She will also be visiting ABD’s Calne office on a regular basis to meet clients and discuss any matters relating to family law.

Janice will be dealing with all matrimonial matters in both offices to include;-

- DIVORCE 
- CHILDREN ISSUES
- FINANCIAL PROVISION FOLLOWING THE BREAKDOWN OF RELATIONSHIP

To find out more about Janice and the family law team, click here or email Janice relating to any family issues on Janice.leyland@awdrys.co.uk

‘ROYAL’ WOOTTON BASSETT

“We honour those who serve”

(Royal Wootton Bassett motto).

Wootton Bassett Town is known as, and will always be remembered for, being a stronghold for community and support during the countless repatriation ceremonies that have taken place since 2007.  In recognition of this the Town has been granted the title ‘Royal’. The official unveiling of the new Royal Wootton Bassett road sign by Mayor Paul Heaphy, and Jane Scott, Leader of Wiltshire County Council, took place last week.

“This Community has come together in the most extraordinary way”(The Princess Royal).

Thousands of people turned out to line the town's High Street for the remaining ceremony which took place on Sunday 16th October 2011 whereby The Princess Royal presented the Letters Patent on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.  The Town being granted the title ‘Royal’ is a rare honour which was last bestowed on Tunbridge Wells, Kent in 1909.

The Prime Minister David Cameron also attended. He stood beside new Defence Secretary Philip Hammond as they witnessed the march-past by units representing the 3 services.  The march-past was led by the band of  the Royal Marines playing a piece of music entitled ‘Wootton Bassett’ as they took just 350 steps to the Viewing Stand in representation of the number of bodies driven along the very same route.  The piece of music was written by Captain Pete Curtis – a Royal Marines director of music.

There were also flypasts by a C130 Hercules, a giant RAF C-17 Globemaster aircraft, and a Vulcan Bomber – all planes which were important to nearby RAF Lyneham and Royal Wootton Bassets past.

COAT OF ARMS

ABD RECEIVES A PLAQUETTE IN RECOGNITION OF THE NEW COAT OF ARMS!

Also in commemoration of this change, approximately 14 local firms including ABD made a contribution towards the new Coat of Arms which has now been replaced with a gold lion at the bottom of the shield instead of a diamond. This will shortly be on show in Royal Wootton Bassett Town for the public to see.

To thank ABD and the other firms for their contributions, a presentation took place at Marsh Farm Hotel, Wootton Bassett on Friday 14th October 2011. All were invited to attend and each firm received a plaquette.  Dr Clive Cheesman, from The College of Arms, London, did a brief talk about the Coat of Arms, its historical facts, and its new design.

ABD Partner Peter Shah accompanied by Solicitor Alex David attended and was presented by Mayor Paul Heaphy with a Coat of Arms plaquette which will be placed in ABD’s Wootton Bassett Office Reception for the public to see!

ABD Partner Peter Shah (centre) receiving the new Royal Wootton Bassett Coat of Arms Plaquette from Mayor Paul Heaphy (left) with Dr Clive Cheeseman (right).

COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT WELCOMES…

ABD Commercial Department warmly welcomes Richard Bowater who has recently joined the team!

Richard will not only be working from ABD’s Marlborough Office but he will also be based at ABD’s Wootton Bassett Office dealing with new business and helping to develop the Commercial Department as from October 2011. He will also have a “watching brief” at ABD’s Calne based office dealing with any new business.

Richard is married, has 2 children and is the current captain of Spye Park Cricket Club. 

He is looking forward to his new role in the Commercial Department.

All enquiries regarding:-

-    Commercial land and property purchases/sales.
-    Business transfers and acquisitions.
-    Landlord and tenant work.
-    Equine.

Please contact Richard on richard.bowater@awdrys.co.uk

You can meet the rest of our team by clicking here or by visiting our website. www.awdrys.co.uk

INVITATION TO “SPEAK” SENT TO CHIEF LEGAL OMBUDSMAN FOR ENGLAND AND WALES - ADAM SAMPSON.

The venue was Bowood Golf and Country Club, Near Chippenham, Wiltshire. The date was set, and Adam Sampson was delighted to attend!

ABD Partner Roger Chadwick who was recently elected to be President for the Gloucester and Wiltshire Law Society will begin his new role in 2012.

IN THE MEANTIME…

Roger has been actively recruiting new sponsors and also new members to help promote and develop the Law Society in becoming a more accessible body.

He invited Adam Sampson to attend Bowood Golf and Country Club to talk about his role as Chief Legal Ombudsman for England and Wales.

Once the legal fraternity had gathered and seated, Adam spoke to an audience of about 70 people who listened to the role of the Legal Ombudsman and why it has been created. He talked about the changing complaints structure, and the purpose of the scheme.

This presentation was well attended from new members to existing members of the Gloucester and Wiltshire Law Society, qualified solicitors, trainee solicitors, legal executives and law students.

LAW SOCIETY SPONSOR

One of the sponsors of the Gloucester and Wiltshire Law Society is Handlesbanken, a Swedish Bank with approximately 100 offices in the UK.

Corporate Managers for Handlesbanken, Swindon - Paul Brown and Shaun Bradshaw were also invited to attend the event and chat to the legal fraternity about their involvement as a sponsor.

After a “Question and Answer” session with Adam Sampson, Roger Chadwick thanked everybody for attending.

ABD Partner Roger Chadwick (left) with Adam Sampson.

GOOD NEWS!

Awdry Bailey and Douglas Solicitors is now a Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme accredited firm.

The firm is very pleased to announce that they have successfully been approved by the Law Society for accreditation to the Conveyancing Quality Scheme.

“Only firm’s offering the highest standards of conveyancing are accepted.”  (Law Society).

Mrs Ronna Turley, Head of Conveyancing, for ABD Offices in Devizes, Calne, Wootton Bassett and Marlborough along with her team were delighted to hear the good news.


From left to right - Sally Mason, Sonya Smith, Sarah Lovesey, Kellie Hinton, Jackie Cooper, Kathryn Roker, Joe Phelan, Ronna Turley, Kate Hudson, Rebecca Davis, Rebecca Vassie, Georgina Giddings and Jean Phillips.




According to the Law Society this accreditation provides a recognised quality kite mark standard for residential conveyancing practices. It is designed to provide a bench mark when purchasers, sellers and lenders are dealing with conveyancing firms. The Conveyancing Quality Scheme shows that the firm is a genuine conveyancing firm which has passed strict quality checks to ensure efficient conveyancing procedures under the new Law Society protocol, also good practice management standards. The aim is to stamp out fraudulent/bogus firms and improve the standard of conveyancing in England and Wales.

The Conveyancing Quality Scheme is supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the Building Societies Association and the Association of British Insurers.

Look out for our new kite mark!