10 minute read
Golf with the Law Society
Looking for golfing opportunities beyond my own club some years ago I came across The Law Society Golf Club – sometimes described as The Law Society’s best kept secret !
by John Slater, Captain, LSGC
Not sure whether this would be my cup of tea, I noted that their year began with a Winter lunch at Lords. What a good opportunity to test the water, I thought, and an opportunity to visit the hallowed venue of the Lords cricket ground. A couple of hours over lunch was a much less risky introduction than four hours plus with strangers on the golf course. If I did not fit in, then I would never be seen again but if I enjoyed it I could then venture to play in one of their many golfing events. Well, I was welcomed royally and, some ten years later, I am so glad I plucked up the courage to attend that first lunch. The LSGC had its first meeting in Chancery Lane in 1962 when the club was established with the vision of bringing together solicitors from across England and Wales in friendship and friendly golfing competition. Over the years it has grown to provide a full list of fixtures (including our own internal competitions and matches against other societies) at some of the most prestigious golf courses in the land and beyond. It is a treat to stand on the first tee at Royal Liverpool Golf Club and think that Rory was here in 2014 when he won the Open Championship or at other similarly wonderful golf clubs. In recent times we have played at Royal Lytham, Brancaster, Saunton, Ganton, Moortown, Hankley Common, Royal Cinque Ports, Rye, Trevose and Hillside to name but a few.
We have also engaged in this friendly rivalry further afield in Europe and as far as Canada and Bermuda. The Paris Bar has entertained us at Chantilly, the Belgians in Liege, the Germans in the very scenic Bavarian mountains (see picture of our teams ready for action), the Irish at Enniscrone, the Bermudans at Mid Ocean GC and many other first class venues.
Because of the Coronavirus crisis, things are on hold at the moment but we hope to be back in action soon. If I have whetted your appetite, check out our website at www.lawsocietygc.co.uk and do get in touch. There is opportunity to play in as many or few events as you wish. You will be warmly welcomed – male or female, whatever your age or handicap.
RHODA THOMAS HAS WORKED WITH IN THE LEGAL FINANCE SECTOR FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.
• WORKING WITH SMALL AND LARGE FIRMS • TRAINING WITH INSTITUTE OF LEGAL AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT • COFA TRAINING We can help you with all of your legal bookkeeping and compliance requirements. Either at your offi ce or remotely.
We can help you with problem accounts and incomplete records. Firms with SRA audit issues.
01327 828692 mail@rhodathomasbookkeeping.co.uk
10 Facts about a Live-in Care Package from Able Community Care
1. Able Community Care has been providing Live-in Care Support for 40 years. 2. The service is available throughout mainland UK and The Channel Islands. 3. We have enabled thousands of older and disabled people to remain living in their home of choice, their own.
4. All potential, Live-in Carers who wish to work through Able Community Care, must have a minimum of one year’s professional experience before we consider their application. 5. Able Community Care writes for all references and telephone checks the validity of each reference received.
6. All Carers working through Able Community Care have an in-date DBS. 7. Live-in Carers update their training on an annual basis. 8. We also off er Home from Hospital Support, Holiday Care Companions and Respite Care. (Brochures are available) 9. Live-Care Packages from Able Community Care are reliable, praised and fi nancially prudent. 10. Able Community Care is a family fi rm.
This is our offi ce on the outskirts of Norwich.
Legislation, now awaiting Royal Assent, for “no fault” divorce has recently been backed by the Commons with a signifi cant majority. The Bill, which when passed will be known as the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act 2020 1 removes the need to fi nd fault in the marriage and allows a statement of “irretrievable breakdown” to suffi ce. The latter requires currently establishment of one or more of fi ve “facts” – three relate to conduct (adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion and two relate to the period of separation; two years if both spouses consent, fi ve years if not) in order to start divorce proceedings. This legislation follows a long campaign by Resolution and other groups, to reform outdated laws (inter alia the Matrimonial Causes Act 1953 and the Civil Partnership Act 2004), which although hotly debated and eruditely analysed 2 will help to reduce confl ict between separating couples.
The current process incentivises one of the spouses to make allegations about the other to avoid waiting for the mandatory two-year period of separation. This can result in unnecessary confl ict, discord and acrimony, which may involve the children of the marriage and damage their chances in life 3 . The new legislation removes the needs to provide supporting evidence of one or more of the above conduct or separation facts with a statement of irretrievable breakdown. This legislation also removes the ability to contest the divorce. There are many genuine circumstances and reasons for an irretrievable breakdown to occur between two people and this may on occasion relate to the biological identity of a child with respect to paternity. On occasion of course, fabricated accusations of adultery may weaponise the biological identity of the children, and under current law, this might be used as a tactic to accelerate the divorce process. For example, there may be the accusation that the man is not the father of the child or that he has been unfaithful and fathered a child outside of the marriage. Both of course relate to the matter of trust, which can easy easily be assumed or earned, but when lost, is impossible to regain – once the spectre of paternity has been raised, it is impossible to reverse and constantly raises its head at a time when the best interests of the child should be foremost. The debate in the Lords was fascinating 4 . Fortunately, the availability of DNA testing for paternity (or other biological relationship such as siblingship) is one of the few areas in divorce proceedings where unequivocal evidence can be obtained to support the case. If the parentage of a child is at issue, then a DNA test becomes a vital piece of information to help alleviate either genuine or vexatious claims and minimise any harm to children from the break-up, whether this is under either the current or the new legislation. Indeed, a DNA test can only be to the benefi t of children, who have a fundamental right to be sure of the identity of their biological father, irrespective of circumstances. Any DNA test should be conducted by a Ministry of Justice accredited provider (such as ourselves) and if you have such a case, please contact us, we are highly experienced and would be happy to help! legislation allows for the child to obtain information on their biological parentage. We will discuss these points in the next article and by then, we will hopefully have the judgement on TT vs YY.
About the author: Neil Sullivan, BSc, MBA (DIC), LLM, PhD is General Manager, of Complement Genomics Ltd (trading as dadcheck ® gold). The latter is a company accredited by the Ministry of Justice as a body that may carry out parentage tests directed by the civil courts in England and Wales under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969”. Please see: http://www.dadcheckgold.com. Tel: 0191 543 6334, e-mail sales@dadcheckgold.
1, https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/ cbill/58-01/0125/20125.pdf 2, https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2019-21/ divorcedissolutionandseparation/documents.html and the Impact statement from the Ministry of Justice https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/ cbill/58-01/0125/Impact%20Assessment%20 -%20Divorce%20Bill.pdf paragraphs 67-69 inclusive.
3, https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ epdf/10.1111/jcpp.12893 4, https://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2020- 03-17a.1390.2
The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary
The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary is a small, independent sanctuary which is the forever home for 95 donkeys and a small group of Shetland ponies. All of the animals are rescued, and have come to the sanctuary because of the adverse circumstances that they faced. Some came here because their owners passed away or were taken ill, some lost their homes and their grazing and some were just unwanted by families who thought that owning a donkey was a ‘good idea’. The donkeys are predominantly British and the sanctuary takes great pride in the care and welfare that these lovely donkeys deserve and receive.
The donkeys lead an active life whilst they are with us on the island. They interact with people in residential homes, with children in special schools and with representatives from local charities, such as the Stroke Association; for people in these groups the donkeys provide a sensory experience that brings joy and happiness to their lives.
Much of the sanctuary’s work takes place because of the generosity of people who support our aims and ethos. Those people believe in animal welfare, they believe in the
small, independent sanctuaries such as ours rather than large corporate charities and they believe that animals have the right to a decent life where they are loved and respected. These people kindly leave gifts in their wills to the sanctuary, and each gift is remembered on site by a plaque thanking the person for their act of giving and their kindness. These gifts have helped the sanctuary build barns, shelters and outdoor paddocks for the donkeys.
Families often come to see the facility that their loved one helped to fund and leave with a smile on their face, knowing that the gift from a will has helped give these donkeys a better future, whilst the donkeys in turn have helped bring joy to another person’s life. This must be a wonderful way to remember a loved one, knowing that their gift has been invaluable.
Please support donkeys-and people-by leaving a gift in a will to the IOW Donkey Sanctuary
Give a giftin your Will today, and make a lasting difference to vulnerable children and their families
Spurgeons is a Christian Children’s Charity rooted in Northamptonshire, working nationwide. We believe that every child deserves a childhood and an equal chance to fulfil their dreams. No child’s current situation should dictate their future and we are committed to helping them to be all that they can be. For over 150 years we have been blessed to receive bequests which have allowed us to continue working with children and young people who need us most. Including Spurgeons in your Will helps us continue to give vulnerable children a better present and a more hopeful future.
74 Wellingborough Road, Rushden, Northants, NN10 9TY Tel: 01933 412412 Website: www.spurgeons.org
If ourbrain breaks down, we breakdown.
Leaving a giftin yourwill to Brain Research UK is a wonderful way to make a lasting difference to future generations by helping to accelerate research into neurological conditions. It will costyou nothing in your lifetime, but will help us to make a difference in years to come. Gifts both large and small help fund research to accelerate the progress of brain research.
We hope you’ll consider leaving a gift to Brain Research UK
www.brainresearchuk.org.uk
BWB Charity Hub, 10 Queen Street Place, London EC4R 1BE 020 7404 9982
