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PICTURE THIS!RETIREMENT PARTYBRITISH IRONWORK CENTRETHE senior partner at Wace MorganSolicitors, which has three offices inShrewsbury and one in Newtown, hasretired after more than three decadesof service.Madeleine Butcher, who startedher career with the firm in 1980, wenton to be the head of the firm’s familydepartment and was made seniorpartner four years ago.She was one of only a few legalprofessionals in the region to beaccredited by the Law SocietyChildren’s Panel.Madeleine said: “I have enjoyedworking for the people of Shropshirefor over three decades and it has beenexciting to see Wace Morgan grow intothe thriving practice it is now with morethan 80 employees.“I am pleased that Wace Morgan’shighly specialised team will continueto offer an excellent legal service toclients.”AWARDS ENTRANTS SHORTLISTEDThe Matrix team, based near Bridgnorth.Wace Morgan’s managing partner Diana Packwood, partner Jeremy Taylor,Edward Butcher and Madeleine Butcher.STAFF from a Shropshire financialplanning company have beenshortlisted for a national award.Matrix Capital, based nearBridgnorth, is in the running for theRetirement Adviser of the Year title atthis year’s Investment Life & PensionsMoneyfacts Awards. The winners will beannounced in September.Matrix chief executive Robin Melley,said: “We are delighted. Our companyhas been steadily growing, andinnovating, and it is great to see ourwork being recognised.”WORLD-renowned diplomat andhumanitarian Terry Waite called in atthe British Ironwork Centre in Oswestryen route to this year’s Eisteddfod atLlangollen.Mr Waite, former special envoyto the Archbishop of Canterbury,successfully negotiated the releaseof hostages from Iran and Libya andwas himself held captive by terrorists inBeirut between 1987 and 1991.Clive Knowles, British IronworkCentre chairman, said: “It was a realhonour for us to welcome Mr Waite tothe centre and to Shropshire.“Our discussions have beenextremely valuable and Mr Waite willbe working with us on a number offorthcoming projects to achieve ourshared aims. He has kindly agreedto host ‘An evening with Terry Waite’,which will be held locally and to whichwe will personally invite Shropshirebusiness people.”It’s been a busy time for the BritishIronwork Centre, which has alsohelped a local Brownie group to hold aspecial celebration event to mark theircentenary.A party of youngsters from St MartinsBrownies visited the company as part ofthe ‘Big Brownie Birthday’, a year-longcelebration of the 100th anniversary ofthe creation of the national Browniesorganisation.The Brownies had been invited byClive Knowles, to visit Shropshire’sfirst sculpture park where gazebos,activities and special treats wereprovided to ensure that the girlsenjoyed a memorable day.Mr Knowles said: “It has been a realpleasure to help them to celebrate theirspecial occasion.”Clive Knowles with Terry Waite.Big Brownie Birthday!DRINKS AFTER WORKMORE than 30 business leaders attendedthe launch of a new joint initiative byBridgnorth-based solicitors AndrewsRitson and Bamboo Wine Bar in LowTown.Jonathan Ritson, director of AndrewsRitson, said: “We have been discussingwith Debbie Smallman at Bamboothe idea of an event to provide localbusinesses with an opportunity to gettogether informally to have a chat and each other after the first gathering.get to know others working in the local The plan is for a similar event to bearea.held each month at Bamboo.“The idea of ‘Drinks after Work’seemed to work: the response was email kmckenna@andrewsritson.co.uk.fantastic and we have received lots ofpositive feedback.”Several businesses set up follow-up Pictured: Charlotte Wood,meetings with others attending to find Kimberley McKenna, Debbie Smallmanout more about doing business with and Jonathan Ritson.58 59