CHIPPENHAM AND MARLBOROUGH OFFICES ARE READY FOR CHRISTMAS!

Both ABD Chippenham and Marlborough offices got into the festive spirit this week by having their Christmas drinks parties...

Lots of people attended and everybody had a great time.

CHIPPENHAM OFFICE PARTY ON WEDNESDAY TUESDAY 17TH DECEMBER 2013

Chippenham office in full swing!

ABD Partner Alexander David who heads up the Chippenham office with Mayor of Chippenham Councillor Sylvia Gibson and her Consort Mr Terry Gibson.

MARLBOROUGH OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013

Cheers!  From left to right; Edward Hall (Smiths Gore Estate Agents), Mayoress Fiona Loosmore, Mayor of Marlborough Councillor Guy Loosmore, Myles Palmer (Brewin Dolphin) and Councillor Nick Fogg.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT “CHRISTMAS LIGHT SWITCH ON” TAKES PLACE 6 DECEMBER 2013...

Come and enjoy the festivities and see the lights switch on.  ABD is proud to sponsor the main Christmas tree with ABD banners around.  Mulled wine and mince pies will be on offer from ABD team outside the office in the High Street.

ABD PROUD TO BE LEAD SPONSOR OF DEVIZES CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL AND LANTERN PARADE

The Devizes office was ready with banner above the front door and Christmas trees lit up on the front of the building as the Lantern Parade assembled with hundreds of people. The lanterns which were truly amazing again this year including a life size elephant!!

The town was packed full of people eagerly awaiting the Christmas light switch on and when it did the main tree with ABD banners beneath looked fantastic!

CHIPPENHAM CHRISTMAS LIGHT SWITCH ON – A GREAT EVENT!

Chippenham town centre was a very busy night on Friday 29 November 2013. It was the Christmas light switch on in Chippenham Town Centre. Thousands of people arrived to enjoy the stalls, seeing Father Christmas arrive and the Christmas light Switch on taking place.  The giant tree in the market place with ABD banners around looked magnificent when lit.  ABD team were on hand outside their office at 38 Market Place to offer mulled wine and mince pies to passers by enjoying the festivities!

As night drew in the evening appeared to feel much colder and had the air of Christmas buzz about it!

Jacky Hubbard and Sian Moreton at the ready with mulled wine and mince pies.

ABD is proud to support and be a lead sponsor for Devizes Christmas Festival and Lantern Parade 2013.

This exciting event takes place on Friday 29 November 2013. The Lantern Parade will start in St John’s Street at 6.00pm.  There will be Christmas markets, Entertainment, Santa’s Grotto, the Lantern Parade, Christmas Light Switch on, Fireworks and MORE! For more information go to www.docadevizes.org.uk

FANTASY RADIO INTERVIEW – “THE SATURDAY SEGUE”

ABD Partner Andrew Douglas gave an interview to Fantasy Radio Saturday morning presenters Ian Wilson and Lesley Scholes on Saturday 23 November 2013 about the Devizes Christmas Festival and Lantern Parade. 

Fantasy Radio 97fm broadcasts from studios in The Corn Exchange which is based in the Devizes market place and originally started in 1995.  This informative radio station plays great music “throughout the decades” and has links with local artists, and businesses. As well as chat shows, interviews, news and music, regular updates and information are provided about what’s going on in and around Devizes.

From left to right; Fantasy Radio presenters Ian Wilson and Lesley Scholes with ABD partner Andrew Douglas.

Christmas Light “Switch On” is happening very soon

Come and join ABD for mince pies and mulled wine!
 

ABD is taking part in the Christmas Light Switch On and Christmas Festival outside the following offices...

29 November 2013 from 4.30pm

38 Market Place

Chippenham 

 

Thousands of people turn out to this exciting festive event which takes place mainly in the High Street. There will be lots of Christmas Stalls, Community Fair in the Neeld Hall, local food products, Father Christmas and MORE! 

 

For more information about this event please go to www.visitwiltshire.co.uk

 

6 December 2013 from 5.30pm

Stafford House

57 High Street
Royal Wootton Bassett

This fantastic festival was formally known as The Dickensian Evening because people used to dress up! There will be lots going on - a hog roast, brass band and Christmas Carols. Felicity Montagu who is the radio presenter in Doc Martin and who played Perpetua in Bridget Jones Diary will open this event at 6pm. 

For more information please go to www.visitroyalwoottonbassett.co.uk

ABD supports  and celebrates the great “Christmas  light switch on” by sponsoring the main Christmas tree in 4 towns!

Look for our banners around the main Christmas Trees in Chippenham, Devizes, Royal Wootton Bassett and Marlborough!

WELL DONE ABD TEAM

From left to right; Tim Watts, Alistair Everett, Lisa Sidwell, Alexander David, Sharon Hayward, Catherine Cole and Eve Clarke 

FINAL MONIES IN!

ABD Team enjoyed the Chippenham Half Marathon run and felt good to have taken part and to have supported such a popular local event. In turn, they felt pleased to have been given the support and encouragement from work colleagues, family and friends who supported them not only in the run but in helping them to have raised money for the local charity of their choice Alzheimer’s Support.

THE PRESENTATION

The monies raised totalled £1,500. A cheque was handed to Anna Littlechild, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Support and Janet Dore, Chair of Trustees on Monday 30 September 2013 at Devizes Alzheimer’s Support offices from ABD Partner and Head of Family Law Dept - Alexander David, and also ABD Senior Partner Andrew Douglas who is Head of abcare, a department which specializes in elderly care to include asset protection, recovery of care home fees and seminars. Andrew Douglas quoted “the team unanimously chose to run for Alzheimer’s Support because both ABD and Alzheimer’s Support do a lot of work both for and with older people”.  

From left to right; Andrew Douglas, Alexander David, Janet Dore and Anna Littlechild

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO ABD RUNNING TEAM
A RUNNING SUCCESS!

Congratulations go to ABD TEAM Alistair Everett, Alexander David, Lisa Sidwell, Catherine Cole, Eve Clarke, Sharon Hayward and ABD Client Tim Watts who ran in the Chippenham Half Marathon on Sunday 15 September 2013 for charity Alzheimer’s Support.  The amount of money raised so far is £645 with more money still coming in!

Sunday morning early was bright and sunny and then the weather turned as predicted...

The team arrived at 9.00am to the ABD Gazebo after limbering up in readiness for the great run. Some of the team were experienced runners and some were not, in fact for Eve Clarke this was her first run ever!

 

Left to right; Tim Watts (ABD Client), Alistair Everett, Lisa Sidwell,
Alexander David, Sharon Hayward, Catherine Cole and Eve Clarke

A TSUNAMI OF RUNNERS TOOK OFF!

There were some 1350 runners taking part in the marathon this year. A lot of the runners were Wiltshire based and had been training hard.
As soon as the gun was fired, a tsunami of runners took off!  The route started outside the Chippenham Sports ground running through the town and then to the more rural outer skirts of the town ending back in the Sports Club grounds.

The gun fired and off they went.

Back at the Sports Club Grounds, more people were starting to gather. Whilst family, friends, onlookers and supporters waited patiently in the cold grey weather for the runners to return, bacon butties, cakes and hot coffee were on offer.

ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT

ABD team ran for Alzheimer’s Support who is a local based Wiltshire Charity. Janet Dore and Beryl Gover came along to offer help at the ABD Gazebo and support the event generally.

Beryl Gover, Fundraising Volunteer and Janet Dore, Chair of Alzheimer’s Support.

IT’S THE TAKING PART THAT COUNTS

It took 1hour, 10 minutes and 35 seconds (finishing time) for the first runner to cross the finishing line.  His name was Sam Humphrey. The first female runner to cross the finishing line came in at (finishing time) 1 hour, 26 minutes and 9 seconds.  As time went on, in came Sharon Hayward first from ABD team followed by Alex David, Catherine Cole and eventually the rest.

EVERYBODYS A WINNER

Despite the cold, grey weather, they all enjoyed the run and a prize giving took place after.  ABD Partner Andrew Douglas who was one of the prize givers said he would be happy to sponsor the event again!
The first male and female winners received a prize each of £250 and an engraved glass trophy.  All the runners received goody bags put together by the race committee and sponsors of the event.
Chippenham Half Marathon first started in 2008 and was voted number 3 by Runners World Magazine in 2011. After the success of this half marathon, the race committee have already set the date for the next one which is Sunday 7 September 2014. So runners get training!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ABD TEAM FOR TAKING PART AND RUNNING FOR CHARITY

As soon as all the monies are received, a presentation to Alzheimer’s Support will take place – keep posted!

FINISHING TIMES

Sharon Hayward     1:55:17
Alexander David     1:55:51
Catherine Cole        1:56:06
Lisa Sidwell              2:48:35
Eve Clarke                2:24:50
Alistair Everett        2:01:26
Tim Watts                2:08:47

Eve Clarke’s first race ever – one happy person at the end of the race! She is already considering doing another.  Well done Eve!

Awdry Bailey and Douglas is proud to be a main sponsor of the Chippenham Half Marathon on Sunday 15th September 2013

MARLBOROUGH JAZZ LIVE!

MARLBOROUGH JAZZ LIVE!

This fantastic fusion of hot summer weather and balmy evenings was very apt for Marlborough Jazz Live this year...

Jazz  Blues Traditional Afro  Fusion  Swing  Latin  Bebop and MORE!

Each venue was packed out with 100’s of people enjoying the live music, in particular the ABD Priory Marquee where ABD Partner Wayne Elliott took guests along with ABD team Simon Lofthouse, Richard Bowater and Tom Paget.

Friday evening events began with “Georgie Fame” opening the festival in the presence of the Mayor and Mayoress of Marlborough Councillor Guy Loosmore, with his fiancée Fiona Lawson outside the Castle and Ball Hotel.

A FULL HOUSE - ABD PRIORY MARQUEE HITS THE SPOT!

Mr Fame then went on to sing with Alan Skidmore quartet in the ABD Priory Marquee after The Red Stripe Bands amazing performance with Neil Drinkwater on piano and vocals.

CLARE TEAL WITH THE BBC RADIO LEEDS BIG BAND

BBC Radio presenter and singer Clare Teal was back by popular demand, this time bringing with her Leeds Big Band. A Seriously fantastic extravaganza!!

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK SINGS WITH CLARE

Towards the end of her show, Clare introduced and sang a duo with Ben Cipolla a local “Priory Gardens busker” with a fantastic voice who Clare had got to know over the years.   Watch out for this new kid on the block – he may be performing at Marlborough Jazz Live 2014!

Left to right; Mayoress of Marlborough Fiona Lawson, Mayor of Marlborough Councillor Guy Loosmore, ABD Partner Andrew Douglas, Clare Teal and ABD Solicitor Simon Lofthouse.

BRITAINS GOT TALENT!

Jive Aces – the UK’s No 1 Jive and Swing Band with the Satin Dollz swung into action and shook the house down with some “hot” music”.

The Adam Winslet Band which is an eight piece band, comprising vocals, guitar, drums, keyboards, bass, sax, trumpet and trombone, ended the evening with some soothing funk, rock and soul which went on into the late balmy night. The marquee was packed out!

ABD Partner Andrew Douglas meets Adam Winslet!

A SUMMERS DAY AT THE ABD PRIORY MARQUEE

Winner of the 2013 MOBO award for her current Album “Kindred Spirits” pianist Zoe Rahman and her quartet provided a gentle afternoon delight of contemporary jazz.

The afternoon ended with Cubana Bop, playing jazz on the Latin side!!

ABD was proud to be a sponsor of this amazing festival  which just gets better and better.  Roll on next year!!

CHIPPENHAM OFFICE OPENING EVENT

MUCH AWAITED

CHIPPENHAM OFFICE OPENING EVENT

TAKES PLACE!

ABD were delighted to announce the opening of their new offices in Chippenham earlier this year, and celebrated this recently by having a much awaited office opening party.

The office opening was particularly important to ABD...

Henry Godwin Awdry, father of ABD’s present senior partner, Tony Awdry,  had started in a legal practice in Chippenham with his cousin Daniel Awdry but began to assist with the legal practice in St John’s Street, Devizes, then known as Jackson & Jackson, at the rear of No 33.   This was in 1948 and Henry Awdry joined the Devizes firm as a Partner the following year. When Guy Jackson passed away in 1953, Henry Awdry’s move to the Devizes firm became a permanent fixture.

Drinks and canapés were served as people arrived to chat and also explore the new offices.  Guests included The Mayor of Chippenham, Councillor Sylvia Gibson who is the 30th Mayor of Chippenham as well as local business people from the Town and surrounding areas. 

Alexander David, Partner and Head of Family Law, who heads up the Chippenham team commented “Chippenham possess a great sense of community and is continuing to develop and grow”

The office opening was a great success and will continue to grow from strength to strength...

Top left to right: ABD Partner Tony Awdry with Ruth Wilkinson (Chesterton Humberts Estate Agents). Tim Hotchkiss (ABD) with Sian Swift (Guyers House Hotel).
Bottom left to right: ABD Partner Alex David with Rob Hunt (Ferris and Culverwell). Chris Bonsor (Bridge Brasserie), Sarah Walker (ABD) and Steve Smith (Bridge Brasserie).

PRESS RELEASE...

Gazette and Herald Press Release

CONGRATULATIONS - GREAT NEWS!

A GREAT VICTORY LAST FRIDAY EVENING FOR 

 AWDRY BAILEY & DOUGLAS SOLICITORS

Many congratulations go to ABD Solicitors Simon Lofthouse and Rachel Fereday for their success at the Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Law Society Awards Ceremony last Friday evening...

The President's Dinner and Awards Ceremony is an annual event.  This year it was held at the delightful Stanton House Hotel, near Swindon on Friday 28 June 2013.  Guests included Andrew Caplen, Law Society Deputy Vice President.

YOUNG SOLICITOR OF THE YEAR 2013

Simon Lofthouse who joined the firm in June 2010 as a trainee solicitor was awarded the Wiltshire Law Society Young Solicitor of the Year 2013 for Wiltshire.

Simon was nominated for this special award because of his involvement in ABD's ground-breaking department "abdcare" which specialises in asset protection for the elderly, together with his charity work in the community.

As well as receiving the Law Society Award, Simon was also given a "Kindle Fire" by Severn Trent Searches, sponsors of the award.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE AND WILTSHIRE SOLICITOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2013

Rachel Fereday who trained at the firm and qualified as a solicitor in 2005, becoming a partner of the firm in 2012, was awarded the Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Solicitor of the Year Award 2013 for her outstanding commitment to the profession.

As the winner of this category, Rachel has been put forward to the National Law Society Excellence Awards which will be held at the prestigious Park Plaza Hotel, Westminster Bridge, London on Tuesday 22 October 2013.

We wish Rachel well in the nomination for the National Solicitor of the Year Award.

Race for Life

Just under £1k raised by ABD Team!

An absolutely fantastic amount

Left to right Annette Janman, Cindy Ervine, Sally Mason, Frances Nash and 

daughter Alice, Catherine Cole, Rachel Fereday, Lisa Sidwell (Team Leader), 

Lisa Coates, Sharon Perkins and Carole Sanders.

CONGRATULATIONS - THEY MADE IT!

 IT’S THE TAKING PART THAT COUNTS

Well done and many congratulations go to ABD team for taking part and completing Race for life which took place on Sunday the 2nd of June 2013 at Lydiard Park, Swindon.  The race was entered by thousands of women in order to help raise money to beat cancer as part of a fundraising event...

“I have entered Race for Life on many occasions but this was my first as Team Leader.  Team ABD did me proud and I am delighted that we have raised so much for such a good cause.  The race was very emotional for everyone but for me particularly as my Father is battling with lung cancer.  After hurting my knee, I didn't think I would be able to walk round let alone run, but I jogged all the way and was delighted with my finishing time of 32 minutes .“

 Lisa Sidwell

ABD team consisted of Lisa Sidwell (Team Leader), Catherine Cole, Carole Sanders, Sally Mason, Cindy Ervine, Rachel Fereday, Annette Janman, Lisa Coates, Sharon Perkins, Frances Nash and her daughter Alice...

“I shocked myself and managed to jog the whole way in 42 minutes!!! Maybe I am not as unfit as I thought I was. I have managed to raise nearly £300.00.  It was a super day with a fantastic atmosphere and great support. It very much gives you a great sense of self-satisfaction to do something so worthwhile.” 

Lisa Coates

“This was my first race for life and I really enjoyed the day.  It was very inclusive of all abilities and the support from spectators was fantastic, they really spurred the runners on. I was very happy to just finish as it was actually the first time that I had run as far as 5k! However I am very proud of my 9 year old daughter.  It was also her first time that she had run as far as 5k too.”

Frances Nash

The day was an emotional one for all.  Onlookers cheered and waved to a sea of female runners and walkers wearing pink t-shirts.  Everyone was there for a reason of their own. All had great determination.  All were supporting a very good cause.

“After my mam died of breast cancer in January 2008, I decided to try to get fitter so started jogging. This was something which I had never even thought to do before then. So that year I kicked off with my first 5k race for life.  Every race I have been in the atmosphere has been absolutely fantastic and I have thoroughly enjoyed my jogging.“ 

Carole Sanders

The weather was great not to mention ABD finishing times.  Catherine Cole who is an experienced runner and has run Race for Life on a number of occasions was delighted to finish within the top 30 runners in just over 26 minutes shortly followed by Rachel Fereday.  Cindy Ervine and Alice were not far behind!   

Well done and many congratulations to ABD Team.