News
5th July 2018
They did it – the Gilbert Stephens Nello Bike Ride team completed their challenge on 24th June. Some cycled 55 miles and some 100 – whatever the distance we are very proud of them. A lot of time was put into training for this event and in doing so they have raised over £2000 for Force Cancer Charity!
Don Middlemost was head trainer and motivator, he did an excellent job in helping prepare the team and encouraging them with their training. Don said “We all took time off on Sunday mornings to tackle the roads and hills of the Devon countryside, sometimes in trying conditions, for what turned out to be a rewarding experience for a great cause.”
Dana Mulligan was ecstatic to have completed in one piece, having fallen off her bike when she first picked it up! “Thanks for all the donations and support. Since volunteering to take part in the Nello charity bike ride I have spoken to so many people whose lives have been touched by cancer and it has been overwhelming to hear the outstanding service Force provide. You can still donate here
I am sure you will join us in congratulating all those who took part – a fantastic effort by every one of them.
4th July 2018
July is a very pink month for many of the staff at Gilbert Stephens Solicitors as they dress up for the Twilight Walk in Exmouth on 7th July, get muddy in the Race for Life Pretty Muddy obstacle course on 21st July and take part in the Race for Life on 22nd July.
Twilight Walk
The Twilight Walk theme this year is ‘PINK FIZZ’ and is a sponsored walk along Exmouth Seafront with entertainment around the route, starting from The Maer, Exmouth. The event raises money for Hospiscare, if you live in Exeter, Mid or East Devon, Hospiscare is your local adult hospice charity. Should you or a loved one need care for any type of terminal illness, their professional team of doctors and nurses are there to help. Twilight Walk sponsorship will make a huge difference to families when they need it most.
Exeter Pretty Muddy 5k
Race for Life Pretty Muddy is a 5k muddy obstacle course, those taking part get to scramble over the A-frame and crawl through a mud pit whilst raising money for Cancer Research UK, it takes place the day before the Race for Life at Westpoint, Exeter.
Race for Life
It’s that time again to dress in pink and go for a run! On 22nd July staff from Gilbert Stephens Solicitors will be taking part in the Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is a series of women-only events raising money for research into all 200 types of cancer. It is a fun event with a serious undertone where many remember loved ones who have battled with cancer and run in their honour, some who won the battle, and some who did not.
The Race for life is thousands of women uniting with one purpose. To come together. To raise money. To BEAT CANCER.
3rd July 2018
The Gilbert Stephens YPN are looking forward to an evening of gin tasting at Crocketts Gin Bar this week. The event, taking place on Thursday, will include a welcome G&T followed by a presentation from Cheryl Bolt who will be launching her exciting new Gilbert Stephens blog. They will then be joined by the Crocketts Gin experts who will talk them through a variety of Gins on offer, and of course there will be time for some gin tasting!
If you are interested in the Gilbert Stephens YPN get in touch to find out how to join, if you do so quickly there may still be space to join in at this event! Find out more info here
25th June 2018
A firm of Sidmouth solicitors is one of the proud businesses that will be taking part in the town’s Great Duck Derby.
Gilbert Stephens Solicitors, in the High Street, will be sponsoring 20 of the corporate red ducks at the event, on July 15.
The company is now urging others to follow suit.
In last year’s corporate race, the winning red duck earned its sponsor a first prize of £1,000 with second placed getting £600 and third winning £400.
The three winners of the corporate race will then each be able to nominate a local charity of their choice for their prize to go to.
The traditional summer event is organised by the Lions Club of Sidmouth and features a full afternoon of events – including a combined flock of around 5,500 ducks racing down the River Sid.
Terry Bastyan, managing partner of Gilbert Stephens Solicitors said: “Not only is it a fun event for all the family but it also gives back by way of a charity donation for the winning companies.”
17th June 2018
Gilbert Stephens Solicitors are sponsoring an organ recital by world renowned musician Professor Ian Tracey. The event is taking place on Wednesday 20th June at 7.30 in the historic Ottery St Mary Parish Church when Professor Tracey will be joined by Crispian Steele-Perkins, one of the world’s best known trumpet soloists, renowned for the quality of his performances and his wide-ranging musical experience.
Professor Tracey is the current Organist to the City of Liverpool, Chorus Master to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society and Professor, Fellow, and Organist at Liverpool John Moores University. In the last 33 years, he has conducted over 250 concerts with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, and in addition to these has recorded music for EMI, Chandos, Priory and for the BBC.
Crispian Steele-Perkins, a world leading exponent of the Baroque Trumpet has had an illustrious career ranging from his membership of the English National Opera, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra to his work for television including Doctor Who, Oliver Twist, The World at War, Inspector Morse and the theme tune to the Antiques Roadshow.
Gilbert Stephens Solicitors is proud to sponsor this event and is certain that the evening will be a unique opportunity to see these two renowned musicians in the historic and evocative setting of Ottery St Mary Parish Church.
Terry Bastyan, managing partner at Gilbert Stephens Solicitors, notes that “Ottery St Mary Parish Church has always played a central part in the life of the town and to attract such internationally prestigious musicians to play there is both exciting and important. We are sure that this concert will be another great success”.
The evening of music will begin at 7.30pm.
16th June 2018
The Financial Adviser magazine have a team of mystery shoppers who regularly take a look at different businesses and share their findings. In May their shopper was in Devon seeking out a way to minimise Capital Gains Tax on her investments. Four different financial services firms were featured in the article and we are proud to say Gilbert Stephens Financial Services came out on top as the “Shoppers Choice” stating “The adviser spoke in a professional manner to the shopper and sounded confident”.
The only thing the Mystery Shopper would have liked differently was our encouragement to meet in person and not being able to give too much information over the phone. There is good reason for this, we need to ensure the advice we give is correct and that is not possible during a quick initial chat on the telephone. We need to know the fine details about a person’s income, investments and assets and we need to be sure they are who they say they are to meet money laundering requirements. It would simply be impossible to offer full advice to a consumer via an initial telephone conversation. We are therefore extremely happy with the feedback and to be named Shoppers Choice. When you instruct Gilbert Stephens Financial Services you can be sure you will get qualified advice from a professional who will take the time that is needed to advise you fully.
Read the full review here
14th June 2018
Gilbert Stephens Solicitors are proud to sponsor Semper Fidelis – Courage & Sacrifice 1918, a concert organised by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. Taking place on the 16th June in Exeter Cathedral, the concert will commemorate the ‘Battle of Bois des Buttes’ on 27th May 1918. This battle took such a hard toll on the local Regiment, the 2nd Devons, who in recognition of their sacrifice and courage were awarded the ‘Croix de Guerre’. This means the concert and the inspiration behind it is particularly poignant for the local community.
The concert will feature a number of world-class musicians including the Exeter Symphony Orchestra and the Exeter Philharmonic Choir, and will also be attended by Lord Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey and the upcoming The Gilded Age.
Gilbert Stephens Solicitors understands the importance of this event and the charity behind it. ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is an organisation that gives vital support to soldiers and veterans from the British Army, making grants to individuals through their Regiments and Corps, and supporting a huge range of specialist charities both nationally and internationally.
Reflecting on the importance of the concerts, Terry Bastyan, a partner at Gilbert Stephens Solicitors, noted that “it is crucial that ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is supported and promoted in this way. The concert is an occasion that will not only commemorate the sacrifice of soldiers in 1918, but help provide a vital lifeline for soldiers and veterans today. We hope that people will give generously and enjoy the concert in the beautiful surroundings of Exeter Cathedral.”
The evening of music will begin at 7.30pm and tickets will start at just £10 each.
Full details of the concert, including a booking form, can be found here
Pictured is Sarah Judd and Dana Mulligan with the Army lads from Wyvern Barracks in Exeter
13th June 2018
Last weekend saw the Friends of All Saints Church, East Budleigh once again coordinating the Famous Scarecrow Festival. Over the two days, a variety of events took place around the village to raise funds to maintain the church and churchyard.
The weekend was a great opportunity for a number of community organisations to join forces and raise money for a variety of good causes, so Gilbert Stephens is proud to contribute towards it. We sponsored a venue trail helping people to take in all the events and to make sure nothing was missed. Those that followed the trail collected stamps at every venue which was lots of fun, with the chance of winning a prize. Thank you to all who took part and enjoyed the adventure.
The Scarecrow Festival is a fixture in the social calendar of the local community, and it is notable for the energy and variety the individual events bring to the village. Last year’s festival attracted visitors from as far away as Essex and featured around 200 scarecrows. It raised a substantial sum that went towards repairing the Church clock and lighting the paths around the Church.
Terry Bastyan, managing partner at Gilbert Stephens, noted that ‘the Scarecrow Festival is such a distinctive and colourful collection of events and it is obvious what it means not only to the church but to the community of East Budleigh and beyond. We are proud to have sponsored the venue trail and enjoyed seeing all the scarecrows on display’.
7th June 2018
The annual Ottery St Mary Pixie Day will be taking place on the 23rd June and Gilbert Stephens Solicitors are honoured to sponsor this event. Pixie Day is an annual fixture in the Ottery St Mary calendar and is a tradition revived in 1954 that dates back to events which are said to have occurred in 1454.
Legend has it that the town was once occupied by Pixies, but that they were ousted by the building of the church and the (to them intolerable) noise of the church bells. Since then the town has lived with the possibility of the return of the Pixies and, once a year, children from the Guides and Scouts groups of the town enact this by playing the part of the Pixies and inflict their revenge on the community by ‘imprisoning’ the bell ringers.
The event will consist of an afternoon fete with stalls and entertainment at the Land of Canaan, then at 6.30pm, the ‘Pixies’ Revenge’ takes place in the town square followed by an evening of food and entertainment back at the Land of Canaan. In previous years this entertainment has included displays of Morris dancing, a coconut shy, tombola and skittles.
The day is a vital part of the Ottery St Mary cultural calendar. Pixie Day, combined with the Tar Barrels in November, are two signature events during which the rich history and mythology of the town is evocatively celebrated, both bringing local children and the activities of the Guides and Scouts to the fore. Gilbert Stephens Solicitors understands how significant this event is to the fabric of the local community and is pleased to be a part of its continued success.
Acknowledging the importance of this annual event, Terry Bastyan, managing partner at Gilbert Stephens Solicitors, notes that “Pixie Day is more than just an opportunity for a party, it is an important day in the calendar of the town bringing together residents both young and old whilst recognising the rich traditions of the town. We are proud to sponsor this event and look forward to another successful day of celebration and food.”
The day will begin in the early afternoon at the Land of Canaan and festivities will continue from there.
More information about the Pixie Day can be found here
4th June 2018
The complex laws governing surrogacy are to be reviewed to speed up the granting of parental orders and deter the exploitation of birth mothers abroad.
To read the full article click here
The Law Commission announced last December that it would begin a review into the law relating to surrogacy this Spring. By common consent the relevant legislation (passed in 1985) is now outdated and unclear. Indeed one fundamental requirement – the need for an application for a Parental Order to be made by two people – has actually been declared to be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. The consultation by the Law Commission will be wide ranging and comprehensive and it could be three years before there is reform of the current law.
