ABD IS PROUD TO BE A KEY SPONSOR OF DEVIZES FESTIVAL AND TO HOST THE LEAD EVENT …

“AN EVENING WITH JOHN HUMPHRYS”

As Key Sponsors of Devizes Festival 2012 generally, ABD were delighted to be sponsoring this event in particular, and with invited guests enjoyed drinks and canapés in the The Bear Hotel, Devizes beforehand. “An evening with John Humphreys” took place in The Corn Exchange and was enjoyed by many people. It was virtually a “full house”!

John Humphrys – author, journalist, broadcaster and presenter of radio and television – in particular BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, also he is currently the host of BBC 2’S television quiz show “Mastermind” gave a wide ranging talk last night about his life in the news, his books, politics and much much more! He even answered questions from the audience!

“A great evening enjoyed by all!”


 

Left to right; ABD Partners - Roger Chadwick, Alex David and Andrew Douglas with John Humphreys (centre),  Alistair Everett (ABD Partner) and Tim Hotchkiss, Commercial Property Lawyer in The Corn Exchange, Devizes 16 June 2012.

ABD LAUNCH NEW ASSOCIATE WEBSITE

ABD Solicitors are proud to launch their new associate website abdcare. This exciting new launch coincides with a series of 6 seminars this year based on the current affairs news subject - long term care.

This brand new website is intended to be user friendly and will provide direct access to our specialist care team whose expertise is the recovery of care home fees and asset protection.

What is abdcare about?

abdcare provides an overview of useful information about the long term care system in this country and how best to “plan and prepare”.  Presently, it is estimated that 45% of people in care are self funding at an average cost of £950 per week for care in a registered nursing home.

The launch of the abdcare website also coincides with the publication of the government funded commission on long term care chaired by Andrew Dilnott.  His view is that “this existing system is not fit for purpose”.

The site has a purposefully designed mascot which is an owl. The abdcare owl is intended to depict the provision of wise and considered information.

Want to reserve a space at one of our seminars?

Want to learn more about abdcare? 

www.abdcare.co.uk

HELP - EVERY PENNY COUNTS!

A TOUGH CHALLEGE AHEAD

  EDINBURGH MARATHON

The heavy rain and cold strong winds affected us all last weekend in some way or another, but not for Catherine Cole who was out there training in readiness for the Edinburgh Marathon which takes place on 27 May 2012 .......

The last time we caught up with Catherine (who is based at ABD's Calne Office) was when she ran the Reading Half Marathon in March 2011 which was a tough one but, she still managed to complete it in good time.

Catherine decided to start running seriously just over 2 years ago.  She had some earlier attempts but failed dismally! She decided to take the "bull by the horns" and joined a local running club in Calne on a beginners running course.  There were 20 in the group to start with; finishing 10 weeks later with a 5k run around the town, followed by a well earned drink at the local pub! They had all completed the run and were very proud of their achievement!

Catherine knew at this stage that she wanted to continue with her running and so started to progress further.  She decided to join an intermediate running session and very quickly progressed to the main club session.  To her surprise she found herself entering local 10k races which she completed in relatively good times!

Catherine has gone on to complete 3 half marathons, the most recent being on 1 April 2012 in a time of 1 hour 52 minutes.

Her biggest challenge now is to complete the Edinburgh Marathon and she is DETERMINED to do it!

Catherine is currently following a 10 week training programme designed by club coach Amy Chalk, who is high calibre GBR international marathon runner.  Catherine trains 4 times a week, with her long runs on a Saturday morning.

Paul Radcliffe has given Catherine a huge amount of advice in her aptly named book "How To Run" regarding diet during training, and leading up to the race day, amongst loads of other useful information - all very technical stuff!

This race is Catherine's BIGGEST CHALLENGE YET, so she is taking this as an opportunity to raise funds for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

The Air Ambulance is a unique charity whose sole aim is to save the lives of people living in Wiltshire.  Each year they need to find in excess of £700,000 in order to keep the helicopter flying.  This is one of the 7,000+ charities who rely on "JustGiving", an online fundraising business.  Every penny of every pound is donated through JustGiving will go straight to charity.

If you would like to help support Catherine, her fundraising page is;

www.justgiving.com/Catherine-Cole3

Catherine is training very hard, and as a result, she hopes to be able to give the proceeds to Air Ambulance - a very worthy cause.

We will catch up with Catherine after her race.

GOOD LUCK CATHERINE! RUN WELL!

NICOLA NEWTON RETIRES FROM ABD
A FOND FAREWELL LUNCH AND GIFTS

ABD Staff and Partners took Nicola Newton out to lunch followed by a glass of fizz back at the office, a presentation of farewell presents, and speech from ABD Partner Andrew Douglas on behalf of Staff and Partners to say farewell to Nicola who retired Thursday, 4 April 2012.

Nicola qualified as a solicitor in 1985 and has dealt with a wide range of residential and commercial property work.

Nicola joined ABD’s Commercial Team in 2007 as a Commercial Property Solicitor and has worked for private individuals, councils, housing associations, developers and commercial companies with extensive property portfolios.

Nicola has been a popular and well respected member of staff in the office and will be sadly missed.

Nicola starts her retirement by enjoying a holiday in USA which she is very much looking forward to once she has her passport renewed!

FAREWELL NICOLA AND HAPPY RETIREMENT!

LAW SOCIETY PRESIDENT MEETS PARTNERS OF ABD

29 MARCH 2012

Law Society President John Wotton met with the Partners of ABD at the firms Royal Wootton Bassett Office last Thursday for tea.

John Wotton is a highly influential figure in the development of the legal services profession and has been on the Law Society’s Council since September 2007.  He became President at the Annual General Meeting on 14 July 2011.

INVEST! INVEST! INVEST!

Hot on the agenda were concerns the Partners had about changes in the way that solicitors practices are being required to operate, and in particular;

-           The need to create a level playing field between solicitors and less regulated suppliers            

of the legal services.

-           The ban on referral fees.

-          The future of high street practices.

-          The strength of the brand which is co-operative legal services.

At a time of change, the meeting was a significant boost for the reputation and future of ABD.  John Wotton was “very impressed by the quality of the management of ABD and their readiness to embrace the future”.

After the meeting, John Wotton went on to give a presentation at Bowood Golf and Country Club, Chippenham, to members of the profession regarding the future of the role of Solicitors.

  

ABD Partners from left to right; Alistair Everett, Roger Chadwick, John Wotton, Andrew Douglas, Peter Shah and Tony Awdry.

URGENT

AWDRY BAILEY AND DOUGLAS (“ABD”)

 

NOTICE ABOUT RECOVERY OF CARE HOME FEES DEADLINE

REGISTER BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

DEADLINE DATE 30 SEPTEMBER 2012

No matter how rich or how poor, if you or somebody you know is in a care home because of a Primary Health need, neither they nor you should be paying Care Home fees.

The Department of Health has recently announced that for periods of care between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2011 the deadline date for applying for backdated NHS funding EXPIRES on 30 September 2012.

DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR ENTITLEMENT TO NHS FUNDING.

For more information contact on a no obligation basis our specialist ABD Care Team by telephoning 01672 518620 or emailing Wayne Elliot wayne.elliot@awdrys.co.uk for a FREE appointment now.

ABD WINS

THE

MAYORS SALVER CHALLENGE RACE 2012

The Devizes Annual Pancake Race was organised by Age UK Wiltshire and held in the Market Place, Devizes, on Shrove Tuesday, 21 February 2012, between 12.30pm-1.30pm to celebrate Pancake Day! Good donations were made this year including ABD’s donation of £100.  All profits from this event go to Age UK Wiltshire to fund their work with older people.

The majority of races were run by local schools followed by single team’s races.  This year, ABD’s team consisted of Wayne Elliott, David Kelshall, Simon Lofthouse and Catherine Cole all of whom did a fantastic job in winning the “Mayors Salver Challenge Race” which was a relay race whilst tossing pancakes in the air with a frying pan!  Onlookers had great fun in cheering the teams on whilst eating pancakes of their own at the sidelines.  The first relay took place against Wilkinson’s which ABD managed to win and enabled them to enter the final heat against Age UK Wiltshire.  It was a tough run to start with, but ABD team managed to sail through and WIN!                                                                                                                                                                                                               

       

First to take off is Catherine Cole competing against Wilkinson’s in the first heat!

   

The silver Salver was then presented by Mayor Sue Evans and will be available for viewing in ABD Devizes office reception once it has been engraved.

 

Well done team for not only winning, but also for supporting a very worthwhile community cause.

For more information regarding Age UK Wiltshire go to www.ageukwiltshire.org.uk