Changing Lives Client issue: April 23

CHESTER HIGHLIGHTS WHAT’S ON GUIDE

1 – 17 April

Easter Eggsplorer City-wide Hunt

Chester BID’s Easter hunt – Chester City Centre

8 April - 10 April

Taste Cheshire Food & Drink Festival

Chester

11 April at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

Medieval Makes at Grosvenor Museum

Grosvenor Museum, 27 Grosvenor Street, Chester

13 April at 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

The Captains Club at the Chester Grosvenor

With Welsh former international rugby union player and TV pundit, Sam Warburton

Chester Grosvenor Eastgate St, Chester

19 April at 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

“Women of Chester” Guided Walk

Chester Visitor Information Centre, Northgate Street, CH1 2HJ

from May 10

Chester Races 2023 – Fixtures

Chester Racecourse The Racecourse, Chester

21 May

Chester Half Marathon 2023

Chester

WELCOME TO APRIL’S CLIENT NEWSLETTER

Happy Easter from everyone at Cullimore Dutton.

This month, we’d like to introduce you to our directors as we welcome the brilliant Brenda Spain, who heads up our Family Law department, to our leadership team.

Following on from our Christmas gift appeal for KidsBank Chester, we’re delighted to be supporting this amazing local charity again in 2023. Find out more on page 6-7 about how you can get involved by donating pyjamas for children up to the age of 12. In this issue, we’ve also got news on a charity walk by the Wills & Probate team (plus cockapoo Bertie) and pictures of our entry into this year’s Chester Duck Race.

You can also read about inspiring young rugby player Hannah Lane. She may only be 16, but this Chester RUFC player is already making her mark on the game.

We hope you are enjoying reading our newsletter in our new flip book format. Do let us know what you think.

Andrew Wright | Managing Director #WeChangeLives

We have a host of tips and advice on the Knowledge Hub area of our website. You’ll find everything from understanding inheritance tax and the secrets to a good divorce, and what you need to know when leasing a commercial unit.

Here are a selection of our recent guides and articles:

• Are you too young for an LPA?

• Quick guide to LPAs

• A quick guide to wills

• Why should you leave a gift to charity in your Will?

• Five life events when you should seek financial advice

• Fixed Fee Divorce – Don’t gamble with your future

MEET THE DIRECTORS THE TEAM ON YOUR SIDE

Cullimore Dutton is more than a law firm. Every day, our team works hard to enhance the lives of our clients and our community through expert legal and financial advice.

The management team is at the heart of the business. Here we introduce the team and ask them what makes Cullimore Dutton different.

Andrew Wright Managing Director

I have a background in finance and business development and have been Managing Director of Cullimore Dutton for nearly ten years. I believe that our brilliant team of people, who are all passionate about what they do, along with our legal and financial advice and our exceptional levels of client service make us stand out.

Stephen Roberts Operations Director

I celebrate my 20th anniversary with the company later this year and it’s very exciting to be on the management team, helping to drive the company forward. I think what makes us special is that we support our clients through some big life changing decisions. This could be anything from buying a new house, looking after their investments with our independent financial advisors or supporting them with difficult life changes. We also love to support the wider community, such as the local charity KidsBank Chester, Chester RUFC and Frodsham Juniors FC. We really care.

Stuart Hill Head of Utilities Team

I joined Cullimore Dutton six years ago and what makes it special to me is that it is such a friendly and vibrant firm. Our colleagues really care about what they do and are dedicated to helping our clients through their journey. As a management team, we’re growing a very special business and I’m proud that we have the opportunity to help promote our values and change the lives of our colleagues, clients and community.

Brenda Spain Head of Family Law

I’ve been Head of the Family Law team at Cullimore Dutton since 2019. We have a very talented team of lawyers, aspiring lawyers and assistants and we go the extra mile to help our clients achieve the best outcome for them and their children, often at one of the most difficult times of their lives. I’m delighted to have been invited to join the management team because I believe our client care and level of support singles us out from other law firms.

Adele Bebbington-Plant Head of Wills & Probate

I started my career with Cullimore Dutton in 2005 as a trainee solicitor and joined the senior management team in 2021. Professionalism with a heart is what the team and I aspire to and what makes us different. We have a fantastic team of people. We’re all hardworking, supportive of each other, keen to work collaboratively across our various departments and pull in the same direction which is great for our clients.

Sarah Davies Head of Property

I was delighted to join our senior management team two years ago. I enjoy the challenge of doing something new and being part of a growing firm which has a purpose rather than just to make money. What makes us different to other firms? Quite simply, it’s our people. We don’t try to be everything to everyone. We stick to what we know best and we do it very well.

Meet the rest of our team at: cullimoredutton.co.uk/meet-the-team

Our Newgate Street Offices

SUPPORT OUR KIDSBANK WITH PYJAMA APPEAL

We are delighted to be supporting KidsBank Chester once more with our very own Pyjama Appeal – please donate new, or nearly new pyjama sets for children up to the age of 12

Following on from the hugely successful “One More Gift” Christmas appeal, which saw us collect and donate over 350 Christmas gifts to help some of the 9,000 children living in poverty across Cheshire, we are now launching our very own KidsBank pyjama appeal.

We are asking clients, colleagues, and the wider community to donate new, or nearly new, pyjama sets for children up to the age of 12. Kidsbank will then distribute these pyjamas to families in need.

KidsBank Chester was set up in 2019 by Cathy Pettingale based on the idea of food banks, but supplying toys, clothes, and equipment to children within a 20-mile radius of Chester. To date they have supported more than 3,500 local children.

Cathy said: “We’re delighted that Cullimore Dutton are

continuing to support us through their pyjama appeal. The support they provided for our Christmas One More Gift appeal was invaluable and went a long way to helping us achieve our aims.”

Cullimore Dutton Director and Head of Property Sarah Davies said: “The support which KidsBank offers to the local community is fantastic and it was wonderful to be involved with the One More Gift appeal in the build up to Christmas. We are delighted to be able to continue our support through the pyjama appeal and hope that it will be as successful.”

How to donate

Should anyone wish to donate new or nearly new pyjama sets, we are accepting these at 27 Newgate Street, Chester CH1 1DE, Monday-Friday

For further details on, or to support KidsBank Chester and the great work they do with other donations please visit: www.kidsbankchester.com

We are asking clients, colleagues, and the wider community to donate new, or nearly new pyjama sets for children up to the age of 12

WILLS & PROBATE TEAM COMPLETE CHARITY WALK

Colleagues from our Wills & Probate team recently completed a 10k charity walk in aid of Wirral Hospice St Johns.

Following two postponements of the official charity walk, the team took it upon themselves to complete their own route as they had already raised over £200 from colleague donations.

Paralegal Sarah Gill and Associate Director, Louise Holmes TEP along with Solicitors Alex Chambers TEP and Kainat Jones, all tackled the 10 kilometre route in March.

Louise said: “As we had already raised the money for the original charity walk a couple of months earlier, we felt that completing an actual walk was the right and proper thing to do. It was also a great opportunity for members of the team to meet up away from the office and spend some quality time together.”

The team completed their 10k route, along with Alex’s cockapoo Bertie in 2.5 hours.

The team set off from our Newgate Street HQ The teams x mile route

WELL DONE TO QUACKIMORE DUCKIE!

TOCLICKHERE DONATE

Quackimore Duckie (AKA DuckPool) sadly didn’t win the Countess Charity Chester Duck Race, but he did us proud all the same!

Our representative in Chester’s annual Duck Race “Quackimore Duckie {AKA Duckpool) took the plunge at the weekend in front of a packed river bank.

Ahead of the race our Duck Committee had worked hard to give Quackimore a makeover. Channelling his inner antihero, Quackimore was dressed in a red and black, full body tactical suit, inspired by Wrexham FC co-owner Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool.

The race which took place on Saturday 1 April is an annual family fun day and charitable event on the river Dee which sees 85 fabulously dressed rubber duckies fight their way down river to be crowned Chester Duck Race champion, all while raising funds for the The Countess Charity.

You can still sponsor Quackimore Duckie We would still welcome donations for Quackimore’s efforts with all funds raised going to the Countess Charity. To donate simply click here.

The Chester Duck Race

Quackimore Duckie (AKA Duckpool)

A TRAIL BLAZER FOR WOMEN’S RUGBY

Sixteen-year-old Hannah Lane only started playing rugby two years ago, but she has aspirations to play the game professionally.

Hannah, who plays for Chester RUFC, which Cullimore Dutton sponsors, has recently been capped by Wales Under 18s.

The schoolgirl winger from St Asaph is now dreaming of playing professionally for Wales.

She said: “I started playing rugby in PE in school and then went on to play for a local team in Abergele and really enjoyed it. I now play for Chester RUFC.

“My ambition is to play for Wales in the future and maybe go into Rugby Sevens as well as the 15-a-side game. My dream is to play the game professionally.”

Hannah’s dad Andy said: “We’re so proud of Hannah. She is the first in the family to really embrace rugby.

“She was hooked immediately after playing the game when she was only 14 at an after school club at Emrys Ap Iwan in Abergele. She joined Abergele U16’s team straight after.

“Age grade rugby for girls in North Wales is early in its development and clubs that have the numbers to play competitive games are few and far between. Hannah was lucky to find Ruthin Ravens.

“Turning up to see more than twenty girls on the pitch, working on fitness as well as individual skill, it’s the first time Hannah really started to understand the game.

as well as the

“She instantly found role models and set her goals to compete with them and learn from them which she did by giving her all to every training session.

“At 15, she was playing up with U-18’s and that gave her some great experience and physicality.”

Last year Hannah was invited to trial for Sale Sharks before joining Chester RUFC for the new season.

Andy said: “Hannah was delighted to join Chester where she instantly felt at home and benefited from some quality coaching in an encouraging environment.

“She was also invited to attend the extended Welsh squad for further development training and assessment with the Welsh coaches along with some of her Chester colleagues that were also playing at North Wales Rugby.

My ambition is to play for Wales in the future and maybe go into Rugby Sevens

15-a-side game. My dream is to play the game professionally.

“Until this year she’s only dreamed of being a Welsh International, but having attended a number of invitational training events and regional play-offs against other Welsh regions she’s been able to realise her dream and put on the Welsh shirt, earning her first cap in the first U-18’s international women’s rugby match ever between England and Wales. It was extra special because the game was played where rugby was invented - at Rugby School.”

A spokesperson for Chester RUFC said: “We are very proud of Hannah and that she has been capped by Wales Under 18’s. She recently took part in a game against England and we are sure that this is just the first stage in an illustrious international career.”

Andrew Wright, Managing Director of Cullimore Dutton, said: “We’re proud to sponsor Chester RUFC and to help support inspirational young rugby players like Hannah.”

Hannah Lane

HOLD THE BACK PAGE

Care home Seminar

Join us on 16 May from 2pm at Deewater Grange Care home, Chester, CH3 6BS for a free to attend seminar in association with Care UK, focusing on later-life protections including the benefits of Wills and LPAs.

To book your email Andrew Kenny at Care UK: Andrew.Kenny@careuk.com

Free Family Law Clinics

We are delighted to be able to offer free, monthly Family Law Clinics* to new and existing clients. Our family law clinics are ideal for anyone working in, or visiting Chester City Centre, who would like to be able to access half an hour of free, completely confidential expert advice at a time which is convenient to you. Click here to reserve your place

Free will review

Have your personal circumstances changed recently?

Our Wills & Probate Team are offering all clients a free will review – with the many tax changes that have taken place in recent years, now is a good time to make or review your will.

Click here for more details.

Sign up to recieve our business newsletter

Did you know that we also have a regular business newsletter focusing on Chester business news, interviews and features along with a round up of local networking events. April’s issue features an interview with Louise Stewart, CEO of Chester Racecourse Company. Click here to view the April issue | Click here to subscribe.

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