We are pleased to announce that from 1 February 2012 our family team are offering late appointments every Wednesday evening between 5pm and 7pm. We recognise that it may be difficult for our clients who have busy and demanding lives to find the time to see us during normal office hours and so we are pleased to offer evening appointments every Wednesday which we hope will provide our clients with a more flexible and convenient service. If you would like to make an appointment to see Karen Carpenter or Rachel Compton please telephone 01353 646114 or 646115 or contact us by email family@archerandarcher.co.uk
Rachel Compton competing in the triathlon
Those of you who read with interest in our September News column about the forthcoming energetic challenges to be undertaken by certain of the firm’s lawyers can now discover how they fared.
Family Lawyer Rachel Compton took part in her first triathlon event on 4th September 2011. The event was held at the Kings School in Ely attracting 72 individual entrants and 7 teams. The 3 discipline event, hosted by the Ely Tri Club, saw the competitors swim 400 metres in the pool, followed by a 20 kilometre bike taking in Ely and surrounds, and finally a 5 kilometre run around the school grounds. Rachel’s training paid off and she finished 12th place female with an overall time of 1 hour 25 minutes. Although she found the event a challenge, Rachel is looking forward to competing in similar events next Spring.
Michael Judkins preparing for the half-marathon
Barbara (accompanied by myself) successfully completed her ascent of Ben Nevis on 10th September. The climb was made in very poor conditions. Following heavy rain for several days leading up to the climb, the rocky path leading up and down the mountain was very wet and slippery. On the day itself, she woke up to rain and that is how it stayed apart from brief breaks in the cloud when she caught glimpses of the exceptional view down in the valley. Notwithstanding this, the climb was made by all in very good heart with only one participant reluctantly turning back. All in all it was a very memorable experience with a respectable amount being raised for Diabetes UK.
On 9th October I lined up in Hyde Park along as one of 12500 taking part in the Royal Parks Foundation half-marathon. What an unforgettable experience it was, for the first time ever in a group of runners of that size, receiving cheers and shouts of encouragement from onlookers and supporters at almost every part of the course. I’m pleased to report a finishing time of 1 hour 51 minutes, position number 3028. The most memorable moment has to be running past Big Ben just as the peals of 10-00 resounded – fantastic. Thanks to everyone who donated and helped me to raised a total of £835 for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
October saw Senior Partner, John Thorogood, fly out to Kathmandu in Nepal for a twelve day trek to Mount Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 5,384 metres. After an enjoyable few days in Kathmandu sightseeing John together with the seven other members of his party flew from Kathmandu to Lukla to begin the trek. As John says “the flight was one of the most scariest things I have done as there were twelve people in a very small twin propeller plan which appeared to land on the side of a mountain!” However, having survived the plane trip he trekked through various Nepalese villages gradually ascending higher with accommodation becoming more basic the closer one got to Base Camp itself. The scenery was incredible and the change as one walked out of the tree line into the more desolate mountain areas with snow clad peaks was very dramatic. The hospitality of the Nepalese people and their incredible culture was something which John will never forget. Arriving at Everest Base Camp was for John the fulfilment of a dream as Everest has always held a special place in his imagination. It was incredible that he was able to ring family from Everest Base Camp and relay to them what he had done. Certainly for John walking up Forehill will never be the same!
Sculptured Eel at ADEC being unveiled
Moving on, it was on the 14th October that the sculptured eel which is now securely installed at ADEC was unveiled. The opportunity was taken to meet with Tabitha Frost, who has devised this enterprising piece of work which Archer and Archer have been happy to sponsor as a means of helping Ely's main arts organisation to keep financially afloat.
Two weeks later, 28th October saw a thoroughly enjoyable evening at the Lady Chapel within Ely Cathedral for the finals of the Ely Standard Business Awards which the firm has also sponsored, in the category of medium sized business. Congratulations must go to the winners in that category, Greys of Ely. The overall winner on the night was Quotient Bioresearch. Apparently the Awards are now into their third year, and looking at the presentations on display and enthusiasm from all those who took part shows that in these recessionary times there remains a very important place for good local enterprise.
As I write we are now lees than two weeks away from the Arthur Rank Festive fun run. Full details appear below. To all those taking part – there will be hospitality to include mulled wine and mince pies available afterwards in our office. This year the course has extended to 6km and I am reliably told there is a very keen Archer and Archer team waiting for the event to start.
Archer & Archer are delighted to be sponsoring The Arthur Rank Hospice Ely Festive Fun Run, which will take place on Sunday 27th November to tie in with the Ely lights switch on. It will be a 6km family friendly course that participants can choose to either walk or run or jog. Everyone taking part will be issued with a Santa hat on arrival. Fancy dress is encouraged and there will be prizes for the best Christmas costumes. Corporate teams are welcomed but the event is suitable for all ages. It is a great way to kick start the festive season, and Santa might make an appearance!
To take part register online at http://www.arhc.org.uk/ely-festive-run.asp
Entry is £7 per adult or £5 per child under the age of 16.
Arthur Rank House provides specialist end of life care to adult patients and offers support to their friends and families. Arthur Rank Hospice Charity is committed with raising more than £1.3 million this year, and as a local charity, we are reliant on community support to ensure patients and their loved ones continue to receive the levels of care they deserve.
Arthur Rank Hospice Charity has been looking after Ely residents for many years both at the In-Patient unit at the Hospice, in Day Therapy and through our Hospice at Home service. Recently an outpatient clinic has been opened at the Princess of Wales Hospital to enable patients to attend medical appointments close to home, without the need to travel to Cambridge.
For further details please contact the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity fundraising office on 01223 723115 or www.arhc.org.uk to register online.
Our previous “News” detailed some changes afoot for professional lawyers like ourselves. The majority of these, such as the possibility of large corporations getting a foothold into the delivery of legal services from next month, and the prospect of massive cuts to the Legal aid budget, present an ongoing challenge which we continue to plan for – keeping at the forefront the best interests of our clients.
At the same time, we at Archer & Archer, both as a firm and as individuals, are going out and about, and so here are a number of activities presently coming up.
The firm is hoping to again sponsor the Arthur Rank Foundation in its “Festive fun run” where last year many braved the cold of late November in setting out on a 3km circuit around Ely, returning afterwards to the hospitality and warmth of mulled wine and mince pies in Archer House. More on that next time.
We are also sponsoring three further local initiatives.
First, along with Ely Perspective and City of Ely Council, the Eel sculpture very soon to be officially unveiled at ADEC in Babylon Gallery, by the last Ely eel catcher, Dave Carter. This sculpture is an automita piece on the theme of eels, depicting eel catchers but with money donated by visitors collecting in their baskets. It is designed and made by local sculptress Tabitha Frost.
Secondly, we are very pleased to be one of the sponsors of the “Youth” campaign devised and promoted by John Yates as the theme for his current year as Ely Mayor. The initiative will, over a six month period from now, invite local nominations in three different age categories ranging from 10 to 19, of those deemed to have made a significant contribution to society or family, and to have made a personal sacrifice. The overall object of the campaign is to find enough good work amongst teenagers and younger people to challenge some traditional stereotypical thinking and we are very pleased to support this campaign.
Thirdly, having for obvious reasons always taken a keen interest in local business, we at Archer & Archer are very pleased to be one of the sponsors of this year’s Ely Standard Business Awards. My Partner Rachel Shaw sat on a judging panel (making a pleasant change from the usual going before a Judge) in July, helping to make selections of suitable local businesses of medium size. The process leads to a winners' presentation evening at the Ely Maltings in October, and again we are very pleased to support and be involved in an initiative that can only be positive in these economic times in giving incentives to people starting out or developing their personal business ventures.
We then move on to some interesting and challenging activities involving our lawyers themselves.
Firstly Rachel Compton. Although in this particular event, the Ely Triathlon, there will be also be a three-person Archer & Archer relay team (all of whom will be getting a separate individual mention in a moment) it is Rachel’s personal participation on, as I write, next Sunday, 4th September, that will be our highlight. The Ely Triathlon event, to be hosted at the Kings’ School, Ely, consists of a 400 metre swim, followed by a 20 km bike ride, and finally a 5 km run. Rachel has been training hard over the last few months to be ready, and where she will race against 80 individual competitors. Rachel’s goal, she says, is to complete the course in a “fairly respectable” time, and needless to say is really looking forward to crossing that final line.
Secondly solicitor Barbara Judkins will only a few days later, on 10th September, be aiming to raise as much as she can for Diabetes UK, by an ascent of Ben Nevis. (A certain person – the writer of this column –will not be far away). It’s going to be an interesting challenge, whatever the weather on the day, the summit of Britain’s highest peak must be scaled. Diabetes UK is the main charity for people with diabetes, their families, friends, and carers. It’s mission is to improve the lives of people with diabetes, as well as being one of the largest funders of diabetes research in the UK. The charity also offers considerable backing for the interests of those with diabetes by campaigning for better awareness and standards of care.
Thirdly, on October 9th I am due to run in the Royal Parks half-marathon, an occasion I am very much looking forward to - particularly as much of the course follows the route of the main London marathon. Following a similar although distinguishable theme from Barbara, I am raising funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation ( JRDF ), a charity committed to the support of the younger age group where the incidence of type 1 diabetes shows a continuing upward trend. Scientific research towards a cure for type 1 diabetes is a major reason for the need for funding, and for this event I have established a “Just Giving” page. Any donations to the cause would be very much appreciated and worthwhile; the link is http://virginmoneygiving.com/MichaelJudkins
John in training for his trek in Nepal
Finally, previous readers of our “News” will know that my Partner John Thorogood is also one to relish a high challenge – usually on two wheels. So, not to be outdone, late next month John will be exchanging his pin-stripe suit and brogues for trekking clothes and walking boots as he heads off to Nepal to trek to Everest base camp. The 15 day trek will take him to an altitude of 1500 metres, an experience he is thoroughly looking forward to. “It’s something I have always wanted to do, and thought if I don’t do it soon I won’t be capable of doing it in a few years’ time”. John has been busy getting into shape and, whilst nothing in the UK can compare to the altitude to be faced, recently completed the Three Peaks Yorkshire Challenge within the allotted 12 hours, the pursuit requiring 30 miles of walking across the Dales, including the ascent and descent of three 700 metre peaks.
We shall look forward to bringing you full reports of these events in our next “News”.
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