Herts Law Society prizewinners 2012 - Insite Law Magazine

issue 16 October 2012Herts Law Societyprizewinners 2012full report on page 8Hertfordshire LawSociety GazetteAlso this issue:Annual Dinner 2012 Photo Gallery, “Has our racing pigeon been nobbled?”,Charles Duchenne’s Musings, The Annual Dinner in the 60’s, AGM Notice,Instructing an Expert and more...▲

ContentsContentsHertfordshire LawSociety Gazetteissue 16 October 20123 Contents4 Council Members for 20124 Editor’s Comment5 View from the Car Park6 EARLLS Meeting8 CPD Programme8 Herts Law Society Prizewinners9 ‘Has our Racing Pigeon been nobbled?’10 Annual Dinner 201212 The Annual Lunch in the 60’s13 Have you said ‘Thank You’ today?14 The Musings of a Has-Been14 AGM Notice15 Dual Marker Hair Testing16 Property & Land Transactions16 Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust18 Instructing an Expert20 Berkhamsted School21 Ralli Solicitors and Factor 50Bedson & ChardLaw Costs DraftsmenA professional service.Court of Protection specialists.Call now for competitive quote.Tel: 01256 363944Fax: 01256 412655DX: 3023 BasingstokeWeb: www.bedsonandchard.comBedson & Chard Law Costs Draftsmen is a trading name of Bedson & Chard LimitedRegistered in England No: 7525030Published by:EAST PARK COMMUNICATIONS Ltd.Maritime House, Balls Road,Birkenhead, WirralCH43 5RETel: 0151 651 2776simon@epc.gb.comwww.epc.gb.comAdvertisingSimon Castell & Julie SharpManaging EditorGraham SpittleMarketingDenise ChallenerDesign/Illustration/ProductionEast Park StudioAccountsFiona EvansMedia No.1100PublishedOctober 2012© East ParkCommunications Ltd.Legal Notice© East Park Communications Ltd.None of the editorial or photographsmay be reproduced without prior writtenpermission from the publishers. EastPark Communications Ltd would liketo point out that all editorial commentand articles are the responsibility of theoriginators and may or may not reflect theopinions of East Park CommunicationsLtd. Correct at time of going to press.DISCLAIMER: the views expressed by the writers in this magazine are not necessarily those of the Hertfordshire Law Societyhttp://www.hertslawsoc.org.uk/ ▲

Council ListingsEditorialCouncil Members 2012 (until 31 December 2012)PresidentAmanda ThurstonCurwens(Hoddesdon)FamilyVice PresidentDennis SheridanD R Sheridan LLP(Bushey)FamilyHon Secretary &TreasurerClaire SharpDebenhams Ottaway(St Albans)Private ClientImmediate Past PresidentCharles DuchenneHRJ Law LLP(Hitchin)LitigationMembersRichard AtkinsTaylor Walton(Harpenden)PropertyRobert BedfordMachins Solicitors LLP(Luton)EmploymentNicholas BelcherNockolds LLP(Bishop’s Stortford)Agricultural and Liquor &Gaming LicensingDavid BirdCrane & Staples(Welwyn Garden City)Private Client & TrustsJeremy Chandler-SmithJCS Solicitors(Hitchin)Sole PractitionerFrom the EditorFirstly, thank youto all members ofthe Society for thebottles I was given atthe Annual Dinner inJune. I have alwaysthought attendingthat prestigious eventwas pleasure enough,but it is nice to receive a public gestureof appreciation. (See the article on page13.) This year’s main sponsors wereConcateno Trichotech. Do reciprocatetheir support whenever you can.Another pleasureAnother pleasure of being the Society’sAdministrator is the opportunity to meetdistinguished guests at the EARLLSmeetings. Too late for a full report this time,the speaker in September was Law SocietyVice President, Nick Fluck. A member of atwo partner firm in Lincolnshire, his downto earth approach and intimate knowledgeof the realities of High Street practice willbe very valuable for us all, while he is oneof the office holders of our representativebody. Look out for a report of the meetingin the next edition.Kathryn EvansTees Solicitors(Bishop’s Stortford)FamilyJudith GowerHertfordshire CountyCouncil(Hertford)Local Government andCriminalAileen HartnettTaylor Walton LLP(Harpenden)FamilyKlearchos KyriakidesUniversity ofHertfordshire(Hatfield)Academic and PropertyLaura MathewDebenhams Ottaway(St Albans)Private Client & TrustsOn other pagesAs well as features about this year’sdinner and lunches past, this edition alsocontains a preview of the new season’sCPD programme and Charles Duchenne’s“Maunderings of a Past President”, whichwill surely resonate with most readers ofall ages.Committees and GroupsThis feature has, unfortunately, hadto be held over, but matters of note forvarious specialists appear in the reportof the EARLLS June meeting. Membersof the Society who wish to be abreast ofdevelopments are always welcome tojoin one of the committees. As a quickreminder, these are Civil Litigation,Probate & Trust, Family, and Property &Commercial, as well as a group for solepractitioners. I will be happy to put anyenquirers in touch with the appropriateorganiser.AGMMay I also draw your attention to theformal notice of the Society’s AGM onTuesday 20th November, which is alsomentioned in the President’s Report.Mohammed MirMohammed Mir(New Denham)Family and LitigationGary SmithNockolds LLP(Bishop’s Stortford)CommercialNational CouncilMemberPaul DaviesHamilton Davies(Stevenage)Employment, Family andLitigationLaw Society EasternRegional ManagerSamantha GallagherParliamentary LiaisonOfficerGraham Spittle(Berkhamsted)Administrator &Membership SecretaryGraham Spittle,85/87, High Street,Berkhamsted,Herts.HP4 2DFTel: (01442) 871344(9.30-1.00 and 2.00-5.00Mons.-Fris.)FAX: (01442) 381528 (byarrangement)Email: admin@hertslawsoc.org.ukThis is another date to put in yourdiaries. Nominations are invited forCouncil members to serve from January2013. If you would like to nominate afull member of the Society (includingyourself) as a Council member, pleasecontact me for the nomination form tocomplete.RetirementI have announced to the Society’sCouncil that I plan to retire from someof the things I do (including providingadministration services to the Societyand others) on 5th April 2014. This isa long way ahead, but if anyone wouldlike to plan to take over from me, I willbe happy to talk about what is involved.Hourly fees are paid and disbursementsreimbursed. Although I am a retiredsolicitor, the post might suit a part-timerwith spare capacity. Some of the taskslike magazine editor, dinner organiserand membership secretary might alsosplit up conveniently.Graham Spittle(01442) 871344admin@hertslawsoc.org.ukView from the car park…Amanda Thurston,PresidentIwould like to start with some thanks – toall of you who supported the annual dinnerwe held back on 21st June at Hanbury Manor.Over 100 of us enjoyed an evening of fine food,good company, and gambling. We were luckyenough to have the continued support of KainKnight to sponsor the VIP reception, and I wasvery pleased to welcome Concateno TrichoTechas our new main sponsor.Our national President, John Wotton, carriedout one of his last official engagements byspeaking at the dinner. Without any priorarrangement, he managed to concentrate on many of the main themesin my own speech, particularly the importance of the Junior LawyersDivision. Luckily, he didn’t also steal any of my jokes.More thanksSpecial thanks are due to the council members helping out on thenight, including our past past president, Katherine Chase, plus ouradministrator, Graham Spittle, and his wife, Helen, who ensuredthe evening went without a hitch, and there should be photographicevidence of it all. [See page 10. Ed.]This is probably a gross misuse of my column, but I would also liketo give some extra thanks to my own firm, Curwens. Not only didthey provide one of the piano playing entertainers from amongst theirclients, and manage not to heckle me throughout my speech, but theysucceeded in causing me huge amounts of embarrassment right fromthe off by sneaking in an announcement that I had been made up topartner the week before. I forgave them, almost, when they later (muchmore quietly) presented me with a huge bouquet of flowers. I was mosttouched by their support..SAALS MeetingI have to say, at one point it was touch and go whether I would makeit to the dinner – although I didn’t let my VP, Dennis Sheridan, know thisat the time…but I am sure he could have put together a speech within acouple of hours if needed.The day before the dinner, I attended a SAALS (Southern AreaAssociation of Law Societies) meeting on the Isle of Wight. You mayrecall that this was one of those amazingly hot days we had back whenwe had a bit of summer. At 7.30am I was driving through the beautifulNew Forest countryside and catching the ferry across from Lymington.It was already warm and sunny and we have could have been crossingthe Mediterranean. The venue of the Yarmouth Yacht Club was inspiredon such a day, although it was difficult to drag us all in for business fromthe sunny terrace hanging over the sea. It was an interesting meetingbecause the SAALS chairman, Roger Rose, who has held the positionsince the inauguration of the group many years ago stepped down anda new President needed to be elected. Nick Gurney-Champion, who hasworked away for many years as the secretary won, and his now vacantposition was filled by April Ross Good luck to them both.We were also lucky enough to have Andrew Caplen with us, who hadjust been elected as the next National Deputy Vice President – so he willbecome National President in July 2014. He warned us that his dairy isno longer his own after this July, so book him while you can!WalkThe meeting ended in good time, but I had promised to go withan adventurous few on a country walk afterwards. What I had notexpected was a hair-raising bus ride up steep coastal slopes to theBattery, followed by a 3 hour hike over the highest point of the island.Yes, I had my walking boots and waterproofs, but I also had with me allthe other clothes and papers from the day…now on my back!Maybe it was the exhaustion, the heat, or the shock of such extremeexercise to my body, but I actually enjoyed the trek and ended up havingby Amanda Thurston, PresidentEmail: president@hertslawsoc.org.ukOr Amanda.thurston@curwens.co.uksome interesting conversations with my fellow walkers. Unique ideaswere mooted - such as setting up a national Law Society orchestra, oran association of legal bell-ringers. I thought we could release CDs tocreate better public awareness of us, and show us in a more humanelight. Volunteers to set up either group would be greatly appreciated.The pointThe point of this tale was to explain that I only just managed to catchthe 7pm ferry back to Lymington by the skin of my teeth, and then hadto drive back up to Cambridgeshire. I got to the office the next day withjust about with everything I needed to turn me human in time for thedinner that eveningI had to miss the Surrey annual dinner at Sandown race course at theend of June, unfortunately, but I understand from their President, TomStockton, that it went well.EARLLS and afterOn 28th June it was the EARLLS (East Anglian Region Local LawSocieties) meeting in Cambridge. This was informal as usual, butinteresting nonetheless. Samantha Gallagher was the guest speaker– who you may recall is our new Anna Donovan whilst Anna is onmaternity leave. Samantha worked for the SRA before joining ChanceryLane, so should be able to provide a useful insight into future discussionsbetween these two. She has also confirmed that she will continue toprovide a quarterly report for use at our council meetings.After chairing the July council meeting I got the summer off – not fromwork unfortunately, but from Law Society duties. I think this also spellsthe end of my whirlwind of black tie dinners – so the posh dresses can goback under their dust covers. Instead, I will hopefully be getting aroundthe county to meet some of you at the district suppers. Details will be sentout by the local council members in each district – but please supportthese events as it is a great chance to meet up with our fellow solicitorsand to put a face to the “other side” from all those telephone calls.AGMIt will be our AGM on 20th November 2012. [See notice on page 14.Ed.] We are looking to have Andrew Caplen as our guest speaker andwill hopefully be organizing refreshments, so put the date in your diary.You also get the chance to vote in next year’s President…I can’t quitebelieve my year will then almost be at an end.NewsTo some more business-like news. It is good to see that TLS, fresh frombeating the HSBC into submission over wider panel membership, havenow started work on Santander. Watch out for Lucy Scott-Moncrieff,our new national President. I have only met her a couple of times,but she is not one to shy away from the big issues, and is no shrinkingviolet. I understand we are also seeing an increase in ABS licences beingapproved…so watch this space to work out who our main competitorswill be in the future. Some may consider the danger comes from otherfronts – such as the continued threat from LeO to publish all complaintsthey deal with – which is worrying given that sometimes clients takeeven very minor or unfounded issues to the ombudsman.Lastly, just before closing off, I have seen the news from TLS that ourpracticing certificate fee will increase from 2013 – presumably they darenot try to increase it this year after last year’s debacle with the renewals– and the concern that this year the SRA are going to try and deal withthe renewals whilst moving offices halfway across the country! DesHudson (national Law Society Chief Executive) has been reportedas noting the PC fee is still very low compared to the recent past, andmaybe an increase of £16 does not sound very much. However, this is atime when all our overheads are increasing, and how many of us havedared to increase our hourly rates?As always, please feel free to share your thoughts andrecommendations with me▲ Hertfordshire Law Society Gazettehttp://www.hertslawsoc.org.uk/ ▲

Editorial EARLLS...EARLLS - The East Anglian Region LawSocieties meeting togetherSamantha Gallagher, who is now standing in for AnnaDonovan as Law Society Eastern Region Manager duringher maternity leave, was guest speaker at the meeting on28th June.She has been with the Law Society (TLS) for 13 years includingas a senior adviser in the Practice Standards Unit. Recently shewas at the SRA, working on the process and procedures fordealing with ABS applications and the processes for approvingCOLPS and COFA nominations.Of particular interest to readers are some Law Society sectionsand other matters she mentioned.Advocacy SectionSolicitors wishing to undertake criminal advocacy fromJanuary 2013 will have to notify the SRA under the newQuality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (Crime) (QASA)arrangements. To help solicitor advocates prepare for QASA.TLS encourages members to join the Advocacy Section whichprovides mentoring, training and networking opportunities ona circuit and national level.Equality and Diversity SectionThis is aimed at giving specialist support for law firmsincluding:-• Specialist training and guidance on key equality anddiversity issues for legal practices;• Insight into current industry best practice from leadingspecialists;• Support to comply with equality and diversity legislativeand regulatory requirements.Members will receive 4 free webinars, a quarterly newsletter,discounts on TLS events and publications.Family SectionThis is targeted at family and childcare law practitionersMembers will receive regular news/information access tothe latest intelligence and relevant news from related sectorssuch as mental health, criminal law and immigration. Memberswill also receive 4 free webinars per year, family update everyquarter and discounts on TLS training and publications.Accredited Scheme Members will receive a discount and can nowjoin the Family Section for an Annual subscription of £110.Other mattersThere is a new Solicitor Judges Division. There is an eventcoming up called ‘Meet the Judge’. This will be held at theCrowne Plaza Hotel in Cambridge on 28th November 2012.TLS have launched 2012 PII Buyer’s Guide. The guideprovides a particular focus on the relationship between solicitorsand the intermediaries they use to help them choose the rightinsurance partner and explains the level of service solicitorsshould expect.The ban on referral fees is due to come into effect next April2013. It only relates to PI matters.The Legal Aid Roadshow in Cambridge will take place laterin the year. Date now confirmed as 17th October 2012 to be heldat Churchill College, Cambridge.Other EARLLS BusinessThe date of the EARLLS Annual Dinner is expected to be13th December 2012 at Downing College, preceded as usualby the Christmas Carols in the college chapel organised by theCambridge branch of the Lawyers Christian Fellowship. Furtherinformation from the Administrator at the address on page 4.▲ Hertfordshire Law Society Gazette

EditorialEvent ReviewHertfordshire Law Society CPD EducationProgramme 2012-13Klearchos Kyriakides of the Education and Training Committeewrites:The past academic year has been difficult for meand for the School of Law of the University ofHertfordshire. The School and I have had to deal withthe consequences of our relocation from St Albansto Hatfield, a revamp of our LLB Degree and variousconsequential developments.Now that the shockwaves generated by the relocation andother changes have subsided, I am in a position to plan aheadfor 2012/13. Furthermore, I am pleased to confirm that I havenow received assurances that it will be possible to organise CPDevents across the academic year.With the approval of Hertfordshire Law Society’s Council, itis intended to freshen up the CPD programme by introducinga number of slight changes. On the one hand, it is proposed toHertfordshire Law Society Prizeretain a core of four traditional CPD seminars of 1.5 or 3 CPDhours. On the other hand, it is proposed that the programmeshould include an additional four events which would beslightly different from those organised in the past. Presentplans include a CPD visit to a local public body, coupled with atalk (1.5 CPD hours). Such a visit will enable those attending togain a deeper insight into one of the public bodies in our countywith which solicitors have dealings. Options include but arenot limited to one of the local courts, one of the local councils,one of the local prisons, the Hertfordshire Constabulary HQ andthe Hertfordshire Coroner Service.If any readers have any suggestions or comments, I will bepleased to receive them at the Council meeting, by email tok.a.kyriakides@herts.ac.ukIf you do not receive regular e-mails about the lectures andseminars, please let the Society’s Administrator (admin@hertslawsoc.org.uk) have your e-mail address.“Has our racing pigeon been nobbled?”This was one of the more unusual requests that ConcatenoTrichoTech, the main sponsors of the Society’s AnnualDinner, had received, explained Graham Sievers, theirDirector of Business Development, during his amusingaddress after the meal.As many of the family lawyers present already knew,Concateno Cardiff (TrichoTech) has provided solicitors withdrug and alcohol test services for child protection and familylaw casework since 1994.“We’re not just the longest established laboratory in theUK providing hair strand testing,” Graham added, “I believewe are the most qualified for hair analysis, with the widestaccreditation to the international standard for drug andalcohol testing (known as ISO 17025). The outcomes of adrug and alcohol test in family law are so significant that thequality of the analysis should be at a consistently high levelthat only such accredited services can assure.”As well as sponsoring the dinner, Concateno TrichoTechis offering a special alcohol package for Hertfordshire LawSociety members:• Determining chronic excessive alcohol use: the TrichoTesthair alcohol service is the only service in the UK accreditedby UKAS to detect both alcohol markers in hair. A specialpackage offer for members of Herts Law Society includesblood tests, an expert witness report, and the samplecollection for a reduced price. Just mention or enter ‘HertsLaw Society’ on the order form and make sure you includethe email address of someone from your family lawdepartment to qualify for an additional 10% discount offthe alcohol test package.• Accreditation matters: make sure all the tests yourequire are accredited to ISO 17025 – check the serviceprovider’s name and their schedule on the UKASwebsite at UKAS.com• If you require a clinical assessment of a client in addition tothe expert witness report on the drug and alcohol results,then Concateno TrichoTech partners one of the UK’s largestcollection of psychologists and psychiatrists who specialisein substance misuse.Concateno TrichoTech:tel 02920 540542And what happened to the pigeon doping scandal?“Well, as we had not tested feathers before, we asked theenquirer to send us some samples not only from the suspected‘drug cheat’, but also some from a pigeon considered to be‘clean’ as a quality control. We never heard back,” Mr Sieverssaid, not without a touch of disappointment.Pictured on the front page (and above) this time isthe Presentation of the Hertfordshire Law SocietyPrize (formerly the Marcus Godman Prize) by nationalLaw Society President, John Wotton, to Natalie Hughesand Patrick Brennan (jointly). They are both traineeswith Taylor Walton of Luton and Harpenden, andboth achieved Distinction in the Legal Practice CourseExamination. The Society’s Council has great pleasurein recording their congratulations.Readers may recall that the prize was founded by MarcusGodman, a Past President, to be presented at the annual dinnerto the trainee solicitor who had achieved the best results in theLPC exam during the preceding year, and that nominations wereinvited on the invitations to the dinner. When the original prizefund was exhausted, the Society’s Council resolved to continueto fund the award of a cheque, or in this case two cheques.All trainees, who pass the exam during the precedingtwelve months, should ask their firms to nominate them,when booking forms for the 2013 dinner are received. Thedate has been provisionally set for 20th or 27th June 2013.All readers may wish to reserve these dates pending furtherannouncements.The Society also gives a prize for outstanding performancein the second year law examinations at the University ofHertfordshire. This prize is awarded by the University’sBoard of Examiners, and presented to the winner by theSociety’s President at the Annual General meeting. Theaward of the prize is also usually announced during thewinner’s Graduation Ceremony.This year’s winner has already been chosen and a report ofthe prize-giving is planned for the January 2013 magazine.▲ Hertfordshire Law Society Gazettehttp://www.hertslawsoc.org.uk/ ▲

Event ReviewAnnual Dinner 2012 - The photographic evidenceThe President’s Table [left to right] Razi Shah, President, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Incorporated Law Society Pat Nixon, President, The InsuranceInstitute of Watford Tom Stockton, President, Surrey Law Society Paul Davies, Hertfordshire Council Member, The Law Society of England and Wales Nigel Hughes,President, The Beds., Bucks. & Herts. Society of Chartered Accountants Graham Sievers, Director of Business Development, Concateno TrichoTech The Hon. Mrs.Arabella Stuart-Smith, High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Amanda Thurston, President, Hertfordshire Law Society John Wotton, President, The Law Society of Englandand Wales District Judge David Eynon of Hertford County Court Michael Kain, [out of shot] Chairman, Kain Knight Group plc Marina Hamilton, [out of shot] LLBProgramme Director, University of Hertfordshire Duane Plant, President, Cambridgeshire & District Law Society Luke Patterson, Deputy President, The InsuranceInstitute of Luton & St Albans Stephen Eames, Past President, Bedfordshire Law Society.The President of the Law Society of England and Wales, JohnWotton, proposing a toast to The Hertfordshire Law Society.The Society’s President, Amanda Thurston,responding.Hertfordshire Law Society’s Vice President, DennisSheridan, proposing a toast to The New Solicitors.Hertfordshire Law Society’s Administrator arriving at Hanbury Manor Hotelbefore the Annual Dinner. Note the puddles on the drive, but the umbrella isdown. He was glad of it at going home time, unfortunately.Graham Sievers, Director of Business Development, Concateno TrichoTech, themain sponsors, with the President at the Reception before the meal.Graham Sievers during his short address.Helen Spittle with a surprise bouquet forphotographic services rendered.Part of the casino-style entertainment after the meal.Dr. Klearchos Kyriakides, a member of the Society’s Council (far right) with someof a party from the University of Hertfordshire.Michael Kain, Chairman of Kain Knight Group plc, sponsors of the V.I.P.reception, pictured during the meal.The Society’s President with a party from her firm, Curwens LLP, after the formal part of the evening,holding their bouquet to celebrate her recently becoming a partner.The wheel was genuine, but the winnings were only pretendmoney.▲ 10 Hertfordshire Law Society Gazettehttp://www.hertslawsoc.org.uk/11 ▲

EditorialFeatured ArticleThe Annual Lunch in the 6 ’s2013 will mark the 50th anniversaryof Hertfordshire Law Society PastPresident Graham Spittle attending hisfirst Hertfordshire Law Society AnnualLunch. Interrupting his series of articlesabout office life in the 60s, he stops toreflect on how the Society’s main socialevent of the year has changed since then.In 1963, nearly every Hertfordshire solicitor attended theannual lunch.Although the better managed firms left a partner to providesupervision and sign cheques, this was before Law Societyrules specified how offices should be supervised, and manywere left in the hands of unadmitted staff from mid-morningon the 2nd Friday in June.No professional commitmentsClients were told the completion of conveyancing transactionswas impossible that day, although, with at least four weeksbetween exchange of contracts and completion and the fashionfor completing conveyancing transactions on a Friday not yetinvented, this actually caused little if any inconvenience toclients. Few magistrates’ courts and even fewer county courtssat every day of the week. Of the higher courts, quarter sessionsreally did only sit for a week or two every quarter and assizeseven less frequently. Clients invariably made appointments(often by letter) well in advance. It was extremely unluckyif professional commitments prevented attending the lunch.Dress was ordinary office suits (after a shortened morning’swork). It was not until the 80s that the event became a blacktie dinner.VenueThe venue was Harpenden Public Hall, because it wasroughly central within the county and well served by busesand trains. Car ownership in those days did not even extendto all partners let alone all solicitors.Tickets were restricted to full members and one guest each.Firms hastened their newly qualified solicitors to join theSociety in order to qualify for an additional guest ticket, andbe able to invite as many of the other influential businessmenin their area as possible before rival firms invited them. A fewyears later the event moved to Watford Town Hall as the onlyvenue big enough. The distance did not deter firms from theother side of the county from attending.GuestsMost firms invited their bank manager to ensure continuationof the firm’s banking facilities. In those days the local bankmanager was a man of enormous power and influence likeCaptain Mainwaring in the television series “Dad’s Army”. Itshould be remembered that in 1963 the period in which thatprogramme was set was only a little over 20 years before.The firm’s accountant was also frequently invited;entertainment in those days being wholly tax-deductible.Estate agents were also among the guests. In the days beforereferral fees, an invitation to the annual lunch was one ofthe few legitimate ways of attracting recommendations fromestate agents. The local building society branch manager(often another captain Mainwaring figure) was invited, togive the firm some influence in securing mortgages for theirclients. Obtaining a mortgage normally required the savingof a 10% deposit with the building society concerned first,and at a monthly rate equivalent to the anticipated monthlyrepayments. Interest only mortgages backed by an endowmentpolicy did not become common until later in the decade.Top tableThe society’s official guests on the top table included manyof the mayors of boroughs within the county and chairmen ofurban and rural district councils (before these were abolishedby the 1974 Act) as well as the chairman of the County Counciland the Chief Constable. The society also invited all articledclerks (as trainees were called in those days), although laterin the 60s they were restricted to articled clerks in their firstand last years, which probably discriminated against nongraduatesserving five years as articled clerks, but nobodyworried about discrimination in those days.MenuBefore the meal, there was a choice of sweet or dry sherryas an aperitif. For as long as anyone could remember, themenu had been a small portion of salmon salad as a starter(then called “hors d’oeuvres”), cold chicken salad with hotnew potatoes for the main course followed by strawberriesand cream. As far as I can remember, this continued until theannual lunch morphed into an annual dinner. I am not sureabout vegetarian options. I think the few vegetarians presentjust left the chicken. Coffee followed: either black or with thecream provided. Nobody worried about high cholesterol inthose days.No entertainmentApart from speeches, and there was no entertainment exceptfor regular announcements of the latest test score obtained bydialling UMP from a coinbox telephone at a cost of 4 (predecimalisation)pence. There was no music: either live orrecorded.After the loyal toast, nearly everyone smoked and cigars wereprovided on the table. Similarly nearly everyone consumedthe ruby port provided, and/or purchased liqueurs duringthe speeches. This was before the 1967 Act introducing thebreathalyser, and there was a superstition that the presence ofthe Chief Constable (see above) would ensure immunity fromprosecution for drunken driving.ToastsThe to reply to the toast to “Our Guests” was given by agenuine guest, rather than a paid speaker. I can remembersome very entertaining speeches by the Bishop of St Albansor one of his suffragans, who were usually present to sayGrace, although rather overqualified to do so.The toast to “The New Solicitors” was announced asa toast to “The New Men”, for the simple reason that allsolicitors were men. In fact, nearly all the guests were mentoo.Table decorationsThe tables were decorated with a vase of carnations,which traditionally were divided up at the end and eitherworn as buttonholes, or taken back to ones secretary as athank you for doing all the work back at the office. Onecarnation for a day’s work. Simple pleasures.I cannot comment on what other pleasures may havefollowed the consuming of so much intoxicating liquor, buttea was served before departure to make certain no-one gotback to his office much before closing time, and this probablyenabled most of the female staff to get off home first.This was all many years before the Society engaged theservices of an administrator, and the whole event wasorganised by the Hon. Secretary with the blessing of hisfirm, who also made clerical staff available to help him.Nobody worried about billable hours. Happy days.Next time: COURT WORK IN THE 60s.Have you said ‘Thank You’ today?The Editor felt the following Article from the “LawCare Summer 2012 News” e-mail circular should be widely read. The Author has kindlygiven permission to reproduce it under a statement that the article first appeared in Managing Partner magazine.by Jill King, former HR Director, LinklatersEmployee engagement is big business these days. And it’s atop priority for most firms, conscious of the demands theyplace on their associates at a time when promotion prospects areat all all-time low.In response to this issue, there has been a proliferation of staffsurveys and expensive partner training programmes. But, inmy experience, it’s the little things that make the big difference;not exactly random acts of kindness but spontaneous acts ofappreciation.Rather than focussing on ways to motivate associates, my beliefis that firms and their partners should focus on avoiding demotivatingtheir associates - it’s about the things you don’t do,rather than the things you do.Most professionals are naturally self-motivated. They setthemselves high standards, want to do their very best andthrive on challenge and success. So, while it’s tempting to pushperformance to even higher standards, understanding howeasily that natural self-motivation can be destroyed is a muchmore fruitful lesson.When you have worked long hard hours, overcome difficultiesand made personal sacrifices to achieve results, it is souldestroyingthat no one has noticed or appreciated your efforts.By contrast, small personal touches and acts of thoughtfulnesscan build loyalty and renew energy in an instant.I remember a newly-elected partner telling me a story of whenshe was a trainee. In the early hours of the morning, in themidst of a gruelling transaction, a senior partner offered tocomplete the document review she was working on and madeher a cup of tea. All those years later she had never forgottenhow appreciated that made her feel, and she was determined toapply the same thoughtfulness to her own team members.Noticing when associates have gone out of their way to completea matter with a thank you and a smile goes a long way, as doesputting your head around each associate’s door as you leave thebuilding to see how they are doing.Remembering when an associate has an important event that heneeds to leave on time for and buying cakes or drinks when thegoing gets tough are the ways great leaders motivate others andcreate great esprit de corps. A bunch of daffodils on the desk ora grateful voicemail message is all it takes for most of us to pickourselves up and want to achieve even greater things as part ofa team.It’s infectious once you start - and nothing is more rewardingthan know that you have made someone’s day.▲ 12Hertfordshire Law Society Gazettehttp://www.hertslawsoc.org.uk/13 ▲

EditorialEvent ReviewThe Musings of a Has-BeenCharles Duchenne continues our seriesof Musings.Have you noticed how things– cars in particular – get biggerand wider as the years go past? Afamily saloon such as a Ford Cortinaor Rover 100, seating five with ease,is now replaced by a monstrouslywide machine designed not to look attractive, but as brutaland aggressive as possible and with an absurdly large engineconsuming large quantities of petrol or diesel – and they still onlyhold five people.In my view, the same applies to the Civil Procedure Rules, whichwere and are a godsend to those trying to create costs. The “GreenBook” has doubled in size and is constantly being changed - everysix months there is a new edition. To make the simplest applicationto a District Judge, which used to be perhaps a three liner, formshave to be completed, witness statements made, costs statementsprepared (they alone take an hour or so), bundles, indexes, skeletonarguments - the list is endless. No doubt the end result is superb– but so are the costs.Lancaster bomberIt reminds me of the story about the Lancaster bomber during the1940s which had many bits of equipment added to it to help protectit from the German night fighters. These additions helped to someextent, but the extra weight and drag caused the planes to fly lowerand slower so making them easier targets. Leonard Cheshire (whoafter the war founded the Cheshire Homes) removed all the extras,the planes then flying higher and faster and therefore at less dangerfrom the enemy aircraft. He simplified and added lightness. We needto follow his example and remove the unnecessary extras. In thatway, the work of the Courts will be cheaper and easier and so benefitthe litigants – even though it may be less easy for the judiciary. Itwould be nice if the motto of the Judges could be the same as thePope’s: “The servant of the servants of God” – even though not allPopes have followed this very carefully.AppealsAnd why does an appeal from a District Judge have to have so manydifficulties put in its way? Pre-CPR when the old idiot (or not so old)got it wrong, as he/she sometimes did, it was easy to go off to theCircuit Judge and have another crack of the whip. And it did notcost an arm and a leg either (excuse the mixture of metaphors). Nowthere are forms to complete, permissions to be obtained and a hugepalaver before you can go before the Circuit Judge and get what maybe a wrong set aside. It’s all become too complex and too expensive.No doubt the High Court is good at attracting world class litigationfor its Courts, and such preparation is required; but for the ordinaryhumdrum case it all costs too much.And what sort of car have I got, I hear you asking? Is it a gas guzzleror a nice economical Mini (old style). Well I’m sorry to say it’s a bit ofa gas guzzler, being a 1961 Rover 100, not noted for its economy. Butit’s cheaper to run than the CPR.[Any other readers, who would like to muse too, are invited to contact me.Ed.]HERTFORDSHIRE LAW SOCIETYNOTICE is hereby given that the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the above Society will take place at6.00pm on Tuesday 20 November 2012in the meeting room at the Red Lion, 88, Great North Road, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 5EU(roughly opposite Hatfield Railway Station)1. Apologies for absence2. To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 22November 20113. Matters arising from the minutes4. To receive the Annual Report of the Society5. To receive the Accounts for the year ending 31 December2011 and, in accordance with Rule 6.5 of the Society’s Rules,to fix the subscriptions for the coming year.6. In accordance with Rule 4.2 of the Society’s Rules, to electthe following Officers of the Society for one year from 1January 2013:PresidentVice PresidentHonorary Secretary and TreasurerAGENDA7. In accordance with Rule 4.6 of the Society’s Rules, toelect to the Council 4 new Members to serve from 1 January2013. Nominations are invited and nomination forms can beobtained from the Administrator.8 . To agree the date of the next AGM9. Presentation of the Society’s prize to the best second yearlaw student at the University of Hertfordshire10. Any other businessGraham Spittle,Administrator,October 2012Dual-marker hair testing sets industrystandard for detection of alcohol abuseRecent developments in the scientific andlegal communities have highlighted thereliability of dual-marker hair testing for alcoholabuse, confirming the process as a valuable toolfor any person or body seeking accurate data onalcohol abuse issues.In March 2011, research by the Society of HairTesting (SoHT), confirmed that dual-markertesting on hair for alcohol misuse providesaccuracy rates of over 94%. This outcomerepresents a major advance in the evidentialrole that hair testing can play in court cases,particularly with regards to child protection.The findings were presented at the annualsymposium of the SoHT in Chamonix, France.The results showed that dual hair testingmethodology runs less than a 1% risk ofresulting in a false positive, and just a 5.75% riskof a false negative.The SoHT analysis was performed by ProfessorDr. Fritz Pragst and Dr. Silke Suesse, two of theleading pioneers in testing hair for substancemisuse. The data set of approximately 2,000samples, the largest of its kind in the world, wasprovided by Trimega Laboratories, a companythat is well recognised for being a leader inthe development of innovative techniques fortesting for substance abuse.Professor Pragst commented: “In the last fewyears, hair analysis for alcohol markers hasbecome an important diagnostic tool in forensicand clinical cases.” Hair testing can provide apicture of alcohol consumption of up to sixmonths. In contrast, traditional forms of testing,of urine and blood, can cover only the previousthree days and four to six weeks, respectively.The results of hair testing were further validatedin June, when a lawyer, Lorna Cservenka ofHanne & Co., who had used evidence providedby Trimega Laboratories, was named FamilyLawyer of the Year at the Legal Aid Lawyer ofthe Year Awards.In the case that saw Ms. Cservenka nominatedfor the award, she had used dual-marker hairtesting technology to persuade the court that amother had not been drinking, an outcome thatwas instrumental in reuniting the mother withher children. A previous single-marker test,conducted by another provider, had suggestedthat the mother had been drinking. An outcomeof the court case was that the judge directed thatdual-marker hair alcohol tests should be usedfor cases where hair analysis is applied.At the time of the award, Douglas MacSween,General Manager of Trimega Laboratories, said:“The award contributes to what is now a wideacknowledgement of the importance of dualmarkerhair alcohol tests in providing highlevels of accuracy about alcohol consumptionover several months by parents and guardiansin child custody cases.”Trimega Laboratories commercialised thetechnological breakthrough of analysing humanhair samples for alcohol, firmly believing thatjust as hair testing had become accepted bythe industry as the gold standard for analysisof drug abuse, hair testing for alcohol wouldreceive similar recognition once its accuracyrates had been widely demonstrated. One ofTrimega’s key achievements was being thefirst to market with dual-marker hair alcoholtesting.Trimega was responsible for the creation ofa Hair Strand Scientific Advisory Board, thepurpose of which is to analyse the fast growingdatabase of information created from the10,000 hair alcohol tests and 7,000 hair drugtests carried out on UK samples each year, ofwhich Trimega is responsible for around 40%.The findings of the Board are shared with theSociety of Hair Testing which will assist it infuture decisions, particularly those relating tothe setting of universal guidelines.The technical aspect of dual hair testing consistsof testing hair for ethyl glucuronide (EtG) andfatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). As hair grows,it absorbs FAEEs and EtG into its structure.While FAEE markers get into the hair mainlyby diffusion from an external sebum layer, EtGmarkers are formed almost exclusively in theliver and then deposited into hair mainly fromsweat. The more markers there are, the morealcohol has been consumed.SoHT and the UK courts advise that dual-markertests should be conducted for hair alcoholanalysis. However, the SoHT has stressed thathair testing should not be the sole determinantin cases of substance misuse. It should be onepart of the overall evidential picture.Nevertheless, dual testing sets the currentbenchmark for industry accuracy when testingfor alcohol abuse. At the time of the 2011 SoHTconference, Professor Pragst said: “We continueto research the benefits of dual testing and aredelighted that the results of our latest studyshow that together EtG and FAEE tests providea far more accurate long-term view of alcoholabuse than other forms of analysis.”W: www.trimegalabs.comE: info@trimegalabs.comT: 0845 388 0124▲ 14Hertfordshire Law Society Gazettehttp://www.hertslawsoc.org.uk/15 ▲

AdvertorialProperty and land transactionsThe value of search reportsIt’s always been important for the conveyancing process to identify all potential risks involved in purchasing a property orpiece of land, but recent changes in environmental and planning legislation are making it essential that correct due diligenceis being carried out.Luckily the wide range of search reportsavailable can help you and your clients tomake informed decisions about propertyor land purchase, and to consider whetherthere will be future implications for valueand saleability. This helps you to protectyour buyer and the lender as well asminimising risk to your own business.CON29DWcontaminated land under Part IIA of theEnvironmental Protection Act 1990. Theimportance of considering contaminationissues was highlighted for solicitors inThe Law Society Warning Card publishedin 2000 and DEFRA has just releasedupdated statutory guidance.Environmental reports examinewhether the property may be situatedon or near land contaminated by, forexample, past industrial processes orwaste disposal. Reports also includean assessment on flood risk, possibilityof subsidence, details of consents todischarge that have been granted andlocation of nearby landfill sites.Planning reportsFlood reportsThe CON29DW is the official Drainageand Water Enquiry identifying all risksthat a property may face in relation toownership and location of sewers andwater mains. It was launched by TheLaw Society in 2002 and is produced toconsistently high standards set by theten water companies of England andWales. As such, it is an essential part ofthe conveyancing process, offering a setof unique benefits to conveyancers andtheir clients.Environmental reportsEnvironmental reports consider therisk of a property being identified asAs well as coastal and fluvial (river)flooding, property owners face thegrowing risk of surface water (flash)flooding. Recent events are a powerfulreminder of the importance of givingclients the fullest possible informationas the impact of flood risk on obtaininginsurance and mortgage funding can beconsiderable.Flood reports use the latest EnvironmentAgency National Flood Risk Assessmentdata along with data on surface waterflooding to provide information oncurrent and potential flood risks.It’s also important that your clientknows about any proposed developmentsof land and property in the vicinity oftheir investment. A planning reportincludes details of planning applicationsand helps homebuyers and businessowners to make a fully considereddecision on their proposed purchase.It’s also worth getting up to date on TheLocalism Act 2011 and the new NationalPlanning Policy Framework, publishedin March 2012.Forthcoming CPD eventsGeodesys offers environmental,flood and planning reportsin addition to the officialCON29DW. We are running freeCPD events in Hemel Hempsteadand Chigwell during October. Forfurther information or to booka place please contact VictoriaConstable, your GeodesysAccount Executive on 01480325845, email cpd@geodesys.comor see www.geodesys.com/cpd.Herts & MiddlesexWildlife TrustHerts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT) works to protectwildlife. The charity manages a combined area the size of1,000 football pitches, from beautiful wetlands and woodlands torare patches of heath and orchard. We take practical action everyday to help wildlife flourish, through the management of our 44nature reserves and the protection of the species that live there.HMWT is one of 47 Trusts across the UK; together we arethe biggest voluntary organisation in the country dedicatedto protecting the full range of UK species and habitats for thefuture, with more than 750,000 members and 200,000 acres ofwild spaces in our care.With long term strategies for the conservation and developmentof environments rich in wildlife, we want everyone to be able toenjoy and benefit from access to nature. In the face of climatechange, the survival of our native wildlife now depends notonly on retaining existing habitats but on the active expansionand reconnection of these green spaces. Our vision is of a livinglandscape, rich for wildlife and for people too.As a local charity we rely solely on the support of our membersand those kind enough to donate or leave a legacy, withoutwhich we would not be able to continue our work protectingwildlife for the future. For more information on membership,volunteering or leaving a legacy please contact us.Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust (HMWT) isa local charity supported by people whocare about protecting wildlife. With the helpof volunteers we manage a network ofmore than 40 nature reserves,covering nearly 2,000 acres,from beautiful wetlands andwoodlands to rare patches ofheath and orchard.We want everyone to beable to benefit from accessto nature. In the face ofclimate change, the survival ofour native wildlife now dependsnot only on retaining existinghabitats but on the activeexpansion and reconnection ofthese green spaces. Our visionis of a living landscape, wherewe work with others to improveour towns and countrysidefor wildlife.We rely solely on the support of ourmembers and those kind enough to donateor leave a legacy. For more informationplease get in touch.Grebe House, St Michael’s Street, St Albans, Herts AL3 4SN01727 858901 info@hmwt.org www.hertswildlifetrust.org.ukRegistered Charity No: 239863 (England & Wales)▲ 16Hertfordshire Law Society Gazettehttp://www.hertslawsoc.org.uk/..............................................Protecting Wildlife for the Future

AdvertorialThink about your instructions to an expertAs an Expert Witness, I have found (in some cases) thatinitial instructions given by a solicitor are not clear ormay even be muddled. It is crucial if an Expert is to producea meaningful report that the instructions are focused sothat there can be no doubt as to what is required.What muddies the waters even more is when a solicitorcalls on the Expert to investigate ‘any other issues to beconsidered’. This leaves the Expert discretion to form anopinion which may be irrelevant, omitting to report on acrucial issue, which could affect the outcome of the caseto the detriment of the client.The Civil Justice Council Protocol sets out the basicrequirements to instruct an Expert, and I would liketo highlight some practical points which I considershould be taken into consideration when drafting thoseinstructions.Background informationAn Expert requires the opportunity to reflect on thetechnical issues of the case and therefore it is essentialfor the Expert to understand the issues, which are firstlyincluded in the background of the dispute or conviction.It is essential for the solicitor to supply a brief resume ofthe case highlighting important issues so that the Expertis able to quickly understand the case by identifying anyfactual aspects that are in dispute. If there are any assumedfacts which the Expert is not required to investigate, oftenbecause they are agreed by the other party, then thatshould be stated clearly at the outset.Copies of the statement of claim and defence andwitness statements must also be included in the bundle.Indeed these are essential because they give an invaluableinsight as to how the matters progressed into the ultimateproceedings.Documents to be examinedThe supporting documents supplied should be inchronological order if practicable, stating those whichare disputed. If there are reports and opinions from otherexperts who have been instructed to deal with otheraspects of the case, they too should be included, since theExpert may refer to them in the report.Interview with client or witnessesInstructing solicitors must state whether directcontact can be made to speak with or visit the client ora witness. This is sometimes essential in order to discusstechnicalities arising from the witness statements, whichsolicitors sometimes do not consider important. Thereforecontact details are useful.Matters to be addressedThe matters to be addressed by the Expert should be setout simply, without ambiguity for example:-‘What is the net value of the Company, calculated on anearnings and net assets basis, on a fair and going concernvalue, together with your opinion as to which method ismore appropriate’, as opposed to ‘Value the shares of theCompany”.Another example is ‘Prepare a report to demonstratethat assets and expenditure so assessed were not obtainedfrom the proceeds of crime’, as opposed to ‘Prepare areport giving your opinion as to the amount of incomederived from criminal activity’.It is not helpful when explaining the circumstancesof the case to just refer for example to the witnessstatements or the claim. Avoiding legal jargon such asFirst Defendant and Second Claimant, but by specificexample such as Mr Edwards and Mr Smith, whichmakes easier reading and greater clarity.The Expert should not be asked to conduct tests thatwill only favour one side. However, it should not stopthe Expert pursuing investigations using all reasonablelines of enquiry that might undermine the other side’scase.Instructions to a Joint ExpertIt is much harder to get two or more parties to agreeinstructions and it is for this reason that the jointinstructions must not be conflicting.Time constraintsIt is important to give notice to the Expert of a timeframe to produce the report, especially when Counselwill want to review the first draft. It is also very helpfulto establish early on the date fixed for the hearing, inorder for the Expert to be able to attend.SummaryThe key message in the Protocol is that instructionsmust have clarity and therefore it is essential forsolicitors to take care in framing written instructionsto Experts. Indeed, in the worst case scenario, it isunlikely to help the client if the court should perceivethose to be subjectively slanted. Therefore, it isimportant to ensure that the Expert fully understandsthe need for objectivity, which should come through inthe instructions.Ultimately it is for the Expert to carefully reviewinstructions ensuring they make sense and are achievable;otherwise if the instructions are taken at face value, thenthe report is likely to be unfocused or inadequate.Norman CowanFCA MEWI MCIArb FABRPWilder Coe LLPNorman Cowan, who is a Chartered Accountant, hasgained the Cardiff University Expert Witness Accreditation;acts as a Single and Joint Expert Witness. He has experiencein a broad range of forensic accounting issues, for Civil andCriminal cases. He has given oral evidence in the High Court,Land and Tax Tribunals and the Crown Court. Instructionshave been received from HMRC; London Borough of Enfield,the Department for Business Innovation & Skills, and theHome Office.Our Specialist experience in Forensic and Insolvency Accountingmakes us ideally suited to provide single and joint ExpertEvidence, in respect of the following:-• Business Valuation• Loss of Profits• Loss of Earnings for Personal Accident &Medical Negligence• Commercial Disputes• Ancillary Relief• Expert Determination• Claims for Business Interruption• Insolvency Related Offences• Proceeds of Crime ConfiscationContact:Norman Cowan FCA, FABRP, MCIArb, MEWICardiff University Expert Witness AccreditationA Member of the Network of Independent Forensic AccountantsA Member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers AssociationOxford HouseCampus 6Caxton WayStevenageHerts SG1 2XDTel: 01438 847200Fax: 01438 847150DX: 6015 StevenageEmail: norman.cowan@wildercoe.co.ukWeb: www.wildercoe.co.ukRepresenting IntegraInternationalFINGERPRINT ANALYSISPeter M Swann FAE FFSIndependent Consultant to the Legal ProfessionA former Home Office Adviser with five decadesexperience in all aspects of finger print and crime work.A Fellow of the Academy of Experts, a Fellow of theFingerprint Society, a Member of the InternationalAssociation for Identification, a Member of theForensic Science Society and included in the UKRegister of Expert Witnesses.Provides a full independent fingerprint service tolegal profession, industry and other agencies.ExaminationDevelopmentAssessmentReportBriefingExpert WitnessTelephone: Wakefield 01924 264900 (Office) 01924 276986 (Home)Fax: 01924 265700Email: peterswann@btconnect.comwww.fingerprint-analysis.co.uk▲ 18Hertfordshire Law Society Gazettehttp://www.hertslawsoc.org.uk/19 ▲

AdvertorialAdvertorialBerkhamsted School - Support for working parentsWe all live increasingly busy andcomplex lives. Working patterns arechanging and do not always make it easyfor parents to be able to do the school run ata set time; and career and financial pressuresmean that fewer parents are willing or ableto remain at home to look after children.The Berkhamsted Schools Group iscommitted to supporting working parentswho are juggling busy schedules. The recentacquisition of Haresfoot in June 2012 nowmeans that Berkhamsted School can supportworking parents of children from five monthsto 18 years with wrap-around care both during term and in the holidays.In September 2012, Berkhamsted Day Nursery, located in a countryhouse on Haresfoot’s delightful eight acre woodland site, opens its doors.The refurbished Day Nursery, which is now under new management,will offer quality care for children aged five months to ‘rising four’, from7.30am to 6.30pm, 50 weeks per year.Berkhamsted Schools Group Principal, Mark Steed, explained, “Oneof the reasons we purchased Haresfoot is that we wanted to extend therange of provision of the School by running a Day Nursery. Furthermore,from September 2013, we will be able to support busy parents by offeringwider access to ‘extended day’ care for Early Years and Key Stage Onepupils and wrap-around care 50 weeks of the year.”These facilities supplement Berkhamsted School’s existing provision:• after school clubs and ‘day boarding’ until 6.00pm for Key Stage Twopupils;• ‘extended day’ support (supervised prep and a meal with collectionfrom the boarding houses up until 8.00pm); and• flexible boarding options for senior school pupils, which includeoccasional, weekly or full boarding in high quality accommodation.Mr Steed points out that children attending Berkhamsted DayNursery will benefit from the excellent facilities and close linkswith Berkhamsted Pre-Prep. “For those children who move upat 3+ to our Stepping Stones year at Berkhamsted Pre-Prep, thesurroundings and staff will be familiar, making the transition ahappy and relaxed experience.”The Haresfoot site will also evolve to become the home of BerkhamstedPre-Prep, for pupils aged three to seven, over the coming years. Theexisting Berkhamsted Prep School, located in Kings Road, will focus onKey Stage Two, catering for children from age seven to 11.Mr Steed believes the restructure of the prep school will meansignificantly better educational experiences and facilities for the pupils.“With its safe, rural environment, the Haresfoot site is ideally suited toEarly Years and Key Stage One education. The Berkhamsted Prep site,on the other hand, with its specialist teaching facilities and close links tothe Senior School, is well suited to Key Stage Two education.”Open Days in early October 2012 will give parents the opportunityto learn more about the excellent academic standards, pastoral care andbroad educational experience offered to children and young people atBerkhamsted. Visit www.berkhamstedschool.org for more details.Andy Flower says yes to Factor 50Andy Flower OBE hasconfirmed that he willcontinue to support skin cancerpatient group Factor 50 for afurther year.Flower, who underwentsurgery in 2010 to remove amelanoma from underneathhis right eye became anAmbassador to the supportgroup in the summer of 2011and in April 2012 took partin the London Marathon,sharing part of the funds thathe raised with Factor 50.In the last year, NICE (TheNational Institute for Health andClinical Excellence) have rejectedtwo groundbreaking drugsand therefore the campaign forskin cancer awareness is nowparamount in trying to control the increase.Andy Flower and Gill NuttallSpeaking recently, Flower said, “It wasn’t a harddecision for me to continue in my role as Ambassadorto Factor 50. They do an excellent job in patientsupport, fund raising and raising awareness of thedangers of the sun. I wish them continued success inthe coming year and who knows, another marathonmight be on the cards!”Gillian Nuttall, Founder of Factor 50 is delightedthat Andy has agreed to support Factor 50 for a furtherperiod. Commenting on this, Gillian says, “Factor 50has made some great progress in the last year and a lotof support has been from the cricket community – thisis largely due to having a legend like Andy Flower asour Ambassador and I am absolutely thrilled that hehas agreed to support us for another year.”Factor 50 will be conducting an online poll ofconsumers over the next 6 months in an attemptto gain a clearer understanding of the attitude ofconsumers towards the dangers of the sun and skincancer. With the increase in skin cancer in youngpeople set to increase over the next few years thissurvey will form the backbone for an educational andawareness campaign.For further information or comment, contact GillianNuttall, Marketing Manager for Ralli on 07930 375360 – 0161 615 0730www.factor50.org.uk▲ 20Hertfordshire Law Society Gazettehttp://www.hertslawsoc.org.uk/21 ▲

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