The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire April/May Edition 2015 | Page 11

LEGAL

SOLICITOR RETIRES AFTER LIFE-TIME OF SERVING IN
SWINDON AND WILTSHIRE
Doug Hughes, a solicitor with one of Wiltshire’s oldest law firm Bevirs, is
retiring after working in the county for 40 years. During his retirement he
plans to fulfil an ambition to visit every abbey and cathedral in England
and Wales. Doug, aged 65, trained in Newbury, Berkshire in the late
1960s under Peter Faulks, the father of famous author Sebastian Faulks.
He qualified in 1972 and came to Wiltshire three years later to join H Bevir
& Son, as the company was then called.
His wife Mary and their son Ben soon
followed, as the family made Royal
Wootton Bassett their home. They were
joined by a new daughter Rebecca.
In 1983, Doug struck out on his own
and became a sole practitioner over
many years in both Swindon and Royal
Wootton Bassett, although he did work
for a short period for another law firm.
However the burdens of paperwork
and formalities placed upon a sole
practitioner meant that in 2012, Doug
took the opportunity to return to Bevirs
as a consultant where he’s worked as a
valued team member ever since.
Sonyia Woolnough, partner at

Bevirs’ Royal Wootton Bassett office,
said: “Doug was a solicitor here when
I started as a trainee solicitor in 1982
and was as lovely to work with then
as he has been on his return 30 years
later. Although we’ll be sad to see him
leave us, we know he has exciting plans
for this next phase in his life.
“We have enjoyed welcoming him
and his clients to Bevirs and we look
forward to continuing to serving them
with the same care and attention
Doug did.”
In his retirement, Doug, who
now lives with Mary in Tetbury,
Gloucestershire, is looking forward to

spending more time with his grandsons
Charlie and Samuel. He also wants to
enjoy more chamber and choral music
which have always been important in
his life.
When the family lived in Royal
Wootton Bassett, Doug and Mary were
founder members of the Wootton
Bassett Choral Society. Their son Ben
was in the local church choir but was
spotted as an emerging talent and
became a chorister at Christ Church
Cathedral, Oxford.
Today Ben is Principal Cello in the
BBC Concert Orchestra.

Mindvision
Promotional Gifts

1000s of corporate gift ideas to help your business fly!
Promotional products motivate
over twice as many recipients to
take action than this advert will.
If you’d like to reach twice as
many recipients, our corporate
gift specialists can help you
make that happen.
Warning:
A side effect of corporate gifting is
that almost 6 times as many recipients
feel appreciated than through other
advertising mediums and over 3 times as
many recipients develop feelings of loyalty
to the sender.

01666 826 226
Mindvision

On Screen, On Paper, On Anything You Like...

www.mindvisioncorporategifts.co.uk
41 High Street, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9ZZ

NEW RECRUIT AT LAW FIRM
Expanding specialist law firm Hoffman Male has a
new addition to the Swindon team. Becs Abbott has
joined the conveyancing, wills and probate team at its
Windmill Hill headquarters, as a legal assistant.
A recent law graduate from Reading
University, Becs was raised and educated in
Swindon and following her graduation had
been on a temporary contract as an usher
at Bristol Crown Court.
“During my law degree we spent
some time in solicitors’ offices and I really
enjoyed the conveyancing,” said Becs, 22,
from Peatmoor, Swindon. “When I was
offered this position at Hoffman Male, it
was perfect. I am learning a lot and hoping
to train in all sides of the business.”
In her spare time Becs enjoys walking
and running, and is soon to join former
crown court colleagues for a Bristol
10km event.
The appointment of Becs brings the
team in Swindon to five, with a further
three based at Hoffman Male’s Bristol
office.
Partner Mary Hoffman said: “We’re
delighted to welcome Becs to the Hoffman
Male team, and we are sure she will be
a real asset. Having recruited a number
of new staff over the last 12 months in

response to a big increase in our workload,
we now have a very strong, dedicated team
in Swindon, and at our office in Bristol and
we plan for our expansion to continue.”

THE BUSINESS EXCHANGE 2015

11