News
12th December 2024
Today, our team embraced the Christmas spirit in style by wearing their most festive and cozy Christmas jumpers for a fantastic cause! 🧑🎄
Christmas Jumper Day brought plenty of fun and laughter to our offices, all in support of Save the Children. Thanks to the generosity of our team, we’ve raised valuable funds to help this incredible organisation continue their vital work for children around the world.❤️
Want to get involved? You can still make a donation to Save the Children here: Donate Now.
12th December 2024
As the festive season draws nearer, we’ve been Christmas holiday cheer in the best way possible, by giving back to our local communities. Over the past two days, as part of our 12-day Christmas countdown, our offices have come together to collect much-needed donations for local foodbanks.
From food items to everyday essentials, the contributions from our team members will making a real difference for those in need during this time of year.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to everyone who donated – let’s continue to come together to spread kindness and make this Christmas brighter for our communities!
11th December 2024
The Christmas season is in full swing, and Okehampton’s beloved tradition, the Round Table Santa’s Sleigh, is lighting up the town once again. This cherished annual event, organised by the Okehampton District Round Table, sees Santa and his team of elves traveling through the community on a sleigh, spreading festive cheer.
Tonight, the sleigh made a special stop at Red Lion Yard and our Okehampton team were very lucky to even get a photo with Santa himself!
Click here to keep up to date with the Sleigh’s movements around Okehampton and surrounding areas: Click here
10th December 2024
David Smith and Hilda Marshall from our Okehampton office, recently led a successful fundraising effort for Children’s Hospice South West, our charity of the year. Together, they organized a raffle featuring a luxurious M&S hamper as the prize. Tickets were sold to colleagues, clients, and attendees of the recent Edwardian Evening in Okehampton.
Their efforts resulted in an impressive £300 raised for the charity, which provides essential care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
The lucky winner of the hamper was Carol Pearn from our Crediton office, who was over the moon with her prize!
For more information on Children’s Hospice South West and how you can contribute, visit www.chsw.org.uk.
9th December 2024
Okehampton Edwardian Evening – the last of our late night shopping openings!
Despite the awful weather, the streets of Okehampton came alive with festive cheer during the much-anticipated Edwardian Evening, an annual event that celebrates the Christmas season in Okehampton’s town centre. It was wonderful to see the town so busy, and we were delighted to take part, joining local businesses and locals for an evening filled with Christmas joy.
Our team—Ava Hill, David Smith, Philip Horlock, Hilda Marshall, Sue Coysh, Linda Jewell, and Emma Bellamy—put on their Christmas headbands and spread festive cheer, serving warm mulled wine, mince pies, and plenty of chocolate treats to everyone who stopped by!
Organised by Everything Okehampton, the event transformed the town into a Christmas wonderland. Craft stalls and local shops and businesses gave everyone plenty to see throughout the town. Highlights included Christmas carols led by the Mayor at St James Church, Father Christmas greeting children in the Museum Courtyard, and performances by Alison Moyna, Oke Voices, Wren Music, and talented local dance groups.
David Smith, Office Manager at Gilbert Stephens’ Okehampton branch, organised a fantastic raffle that raised £300 for Children’s Hospice South West, our charity of the year.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who braved the weather to stop by and to Everything Okehampton for their tireless efforts in organising this event.
The Edwardian Evening marks the official start of the Christmas countdown in Okehampton, and despite the rain, the festive season is now truly underway!
3rd December 2024
Now that the festive season is in full swing, please find our Christmas opening hours below:
2nd December 2024
On Friday evening, we got into the Christmas spirit at Ottery St Mary’s Festive Cheer Event, joining the town’s much-loved annual late-night opening festivities.
Starting at 5pm, our Gilbert Stephens Christmas Elves—Ava Hill, Jonathan Cave, Simon Prowse, Tracie Bowden, Hannah MacDonald, and Michael Garrett—set up a table outside our old office in the town square. Despite the very wet weather, they were armed with hot cups of mulled wine and delicious mince pies, spreading festive cheer to everyone who stopped by. 🍷🥧
We were thrilled to be at the heart of the celebrations in the town square, with the impressive traction engine parked right across from us! Entertainment continued throughout the evening with performances by the LaLa Choir, the Silver Band, and the incredibly talented dancers of the Jo Wilson Dance Group. It was fantastic to see Ottery St Mary lit up by its beautiful Christmas lights and bustling with people.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to organise such a successful event, as well as to everyone who stopped by to enjoy the Christmas spirit with us.
Roll on Christmas! 🎄✨
2nd December 2024
We thoroughly enjoyed joining in on the Christmas fun at Budleigh’s annual Late-Night Shopping event on Friday, staying open until late!
We set up a table outside our new office on the high street, handing out mulled wine and mince pies to anyone who passed by, spreading Christmas cheer throughout the evening!
The event brought Budleigh’s community together as local businesses and retailers joined in, all staying open late for the evening.
Bianca Gibbons, James Leo, Jessica Burgess and Madeleine Youngs all attended from Gilbert Stephens and Bianca, Assistant Office Manager at Budleigh said ‘It was lovely to see the local community enjoying a mulled wine and a mince pie. It was a really festive and successful night. The rain did not stop our Christmassy spirits!’
We would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello and to the organisers for putting on such a magical evening. We look forward to continuing our support for Budleigh Salterton’s community in the years to come.
29th November 2024
The festive season has officially begun in Ottery St Mary! Claire Collett and Sue Ellen Lee from Gilbert Stephens Solicitors have beautifully decorated our Christmas tree, which will be on display in Ottery St Mary Parish Church from tomorrow until the 30th of November.
This year marks six years since we sadly lost Liz Govier, a beloved Private Client Solicitor at our Ottery office. Liz would decorate our Christmas tree every year, and now her daughter, Claire, continues this special tradition in her memory.
We encourage everyone to drop by the church and admire the wonderful Christmas trees on display. The festival is open from 11am to 5pm, Wednesday to Saturday, and 11am to 4pm on Sunday. Admission is free, and there will be refreshments, craft stalls, and carol singing to add to the festive atmosphere.
We’ll also be open on the evening of Friday, 29th November, for Ottery’s Festive Cheer event! Join us for some mulled wine, mince pies, and chocolates for the little ones!
25th November 2024
Gilbert Stephens Solicitors were delighted to support the Crediton Operatic and Dramatic Society (CODS) as sponsors of their 60th Anniversary Winter Ball, held at the Waie Inn in Zeal Monachorum.
The evening featured a delicious three-course meal, casino tables, live music from All Jazzed Up, and a disco that kept the dance floor lively late into the night. Guests were also wowed by the incredible magician Graham Prigg, whose performance we were thrilled to sponsor.
Unfortunately, due to the unforeseen British weather, which left many snowed in, our team were unable to attend the celebration in person. However, we are proud to have been part of such a memorable occasion and to celebrate CODS’ remarkable 60-year milestone from afar.
Gilbert Stephens Solicitors would like to extend a big thank you to the organisers for creating such a fantastic evening for everyone to enjoy.
We look forward to continuing our ongoing support for CODS at many more events and shows in the New Year!
