Being a member of the Law Society Accreditation Scheme means that our clients can be assured that they are being represented by an extremely capable and highly qualified Solicitor whose professionalism and ability in Family Law has been tested, assessed and accredited by the Law Society.

The level of expertise on offer is a first for the Glossop and High Peak area, as up until now local residents requiring the specialist service would have needed to travel towards Manchester to find a Solicitor of this calibre with the necessary Law Society accreditation.

David also has several years of experience specialising in the area of Family law assisting clients with divorce, separation, property and financial matters.  David is a part of a dedicated Family Law Team at Bakers headed by Angela Thorp and supported by Claire Aldridge.

As well as offering a high quality personal service to Glossop residents, Bakers Solicitors is committed to working in and with the local community demonstrated by sponsorship of Glossop Rugby Club and support of local charities.

Tony Dales and Ian Baker

A former top cop is leading the licensing service at Bakers Solicitors and is using the know-how gained from his years in the force.

Ex-Derbyshire Constabulary inspector Tony Dales is heading a licensing department offering a range of services for those in the trade, together with other local authority licensable activities, such as taxi services.

Tony outlined the service on offer at the latest Glossop Pub Watch meeting where it received a good reaction from members.

The Licensing Act 2003 is an extensive piece of legislation and Bakers’ Licensing department are acknowledged specialists in the field, which means that assistance can be offered with court and licensing hearings as well as offering a one-stop shop to meet all of these licensing needs.

To achieve this recognition the British Institute of Inn Keeping Awarding Body has awarded accreditation, which will allow the firm to train hopeful licensees and individuals that work in a licensing department.

The firm has approval to administer BIIAB qualifications including Award for Personal License Holders, Responsible Alcohol Retailing and Alcohol Awareness.

Tony and his team will help proprietors protect their license in the face of enforcement or prosecution and deal with appeals to court.

By working closely with the police and local licensing authority the Bakers’ service will allow licensees to keep free from trouble by complying with the law and reducing the number of alcohol related offences.  Clear and practical advice can be offered to anyone applying for a new license, varying an existing license, and those whose premises is the subject of a review.  Help can also be provided with matters relating to trading standards, planning enforcement, fire safety enforcement and regulatory crime.

Held on Saturday 11^th and Sunday 12^th June 2011, the Open Weekend has been a long standing event where competitors play for the Centenary Salver which this year was presented to the club by the Borough of the High Peak to commemorate the Borough Centenary.

Club Captain Mr Kyran Collum confirmed the clubs delight to secure such a prestigious sponsor who hopefully is going to develop strong links with club in the future

Ian Baker of Baker Solicitors said he was delighted to finalise the sponsorship with the club and indicated he saw this as the beginning of mutually beneficial partnership

Sponsored by Glossop based Bakers Solicitors, the Titans is a hybrid team made up of players from Glossop and Marple.  Players remain members of their own club but play for the joint side.  Coaching staff and respective club committees have fully backed this innovative move in order to maintain a team at competitive level as many teams fold due to lack of players around the age of 16 – when the players have their GCSEs and start to get other commitments.

Local Solicitor and sponsor Ian Baker comments ‘It’s a fantastic achievement for the Titans to win the title during their first year of playing as a team.  Its testament to the calibre of playing talent in the area, as well as the support of their coaches and parents’.

Fiona, from Buxton was cleared of murdering two of her three children in a house fire last year, which has left her badly burnt.  She escaped with her baby son Kiernan by jumping to safety and landing on a trampoline outside a first floor window, but daughter Niamh, five and elder son Cayden sadly died in the blaze in April last year.

Kirsten Collings from Bakers Solicitors has led the defence from the day that Fiona was charged with murder.  It has been a high profile and extremely sensitive case as it involved the loss of life of very young children.  Kirsten and her team have been responsible for appointing senior counsel and all the defense experts who testified at the trial, including burns, plastic surgery and toxicologist experts.

Kirsten comments ‘Tuesday’s verdict has been long awaited by Fiona and her family and is of course welcome.  The result is the culmination of many months of hard work delivered by the team and we just hope that the family can now pick up the threads of their lives and establish some kind of normality.’

The jury at Nottingham Crown Court found Fiona not guilty on all  six charges – which in addition to murder included alleged manslaughter, arson with intent to endanger life and causing grievous bodily harm to Kiernan, who was injured in the fall.

Family Department – l to r, Sarah Blanchard, Clare Farrand, David Parkes, Angela Thorp (Head of Department) Claire Aldridge

Local Solicitors’ Bakers is expanding its’ Family Department with the appointment of a new Solicitor.  David Parkes, who lives in Hadfield, joins the team to help service the growing demand in divorce and related matters such as child custody and financial settlements.

Separation and divorce can be a very unsettling time for all parties involved, particularly the children, but the team at Bakers, headed by Angela Thorp, push for a speedy conclusion and treat every case with the utmost sensitivity.  Bakers also offer pre and post nuptial agreements, co-habitation agreements and help to settle co-habitation disputes

Coinciding with the expansion of the Family Department is Bakers commitment to the local community demonstrated by the Company’s sponsorship of the Glossop Rugby Club and the recent Xmas Toy Appeal for the children supported by High Peak Women’s Aid.

Angela Thorp of Bakers comments ‘The appointment of a new Solicitor will ensure that we maintain our exceptional standards of service which we are able to offer at extremely competitive and realistic rates’

‘The practice also recognises that it has a commitment to the local community of which it is very much a part and as such plans to lead a number of charitable and sponsorship initiatives which will deliver a direct benefit’

Noddy really demonstrated his commitment to charitable causes by battling the weather and making a valiant effort to get to Glossop – surprising all the staff at Bakers Solicitors who never thought he would make it!!

Cracking jokes to keep everyone’s spirits up in the bitterly cold weather,  Noddy Holder’s jovial mood was infectious and he left a happy trail behind him as he laughed and joked with people he met.

Noddy Holder had this to say ‘I’m really delighted to have been able to come along and support this wonderful appeal that benefits local children facing hardship.  Merry Christmas Everybody!!’

The children who will benefit from the Bakers Xmas Toy Appeal will be those who are supported by High Peak Women’s Aid.  The locally based organization provides a range of support services to women and children in the area who have experienced domestic abuse.  The generosity of the people of Glossop who have brought toys so far will really help lift the spirits of these youngsters on Xmas day and also lessen the burden and pressure on their mothers who are trying to get their lives and those of their children back on track.

Bakers Solicitors will be receiving toys right up to the 22^nd of December and will be open on the next couple of Saturdays from 10am to 3pm to accommodate those wishing to donate. So do think of disadvantaged children this xmas whilst you are out doing your shopping and the difference your gift could make in helping their Christmas to be extra special.  A donated gift however big or small will be gratefully received and will find its way to a ‘good home’! 

The recipients of the appeal will include children of all ages up to 16, so do remember the teenagers who are still children at heart and love to receive presents, especially at Christmas time. 

Ian Bakers from Bakers Solicitors, the driving force behind the appeal added ‘ A big thank you to those generous people who have already brought some gifts down for the appeal.  The team at Bakers Solicitors would really like to do all we can to make Christmas a better time for those kids who are facing difficulty and hardship.  Money is tight for lots of people this year, so don’t forget if your budget doesn’t allow for an extra gift, then take advantage of those ‘get an extra one free’ offers.  That way you can donate without it affecting your pocket!!’

Toys and gifts should be dropped at Bakers Solicitors, High Street West (look out for the Toy Appeal banner) from 9am – 5pm on a Monday to Friday,  where they will be held in safekeeping before forwarding to High Peak Women’s Aid.  Bakers will also open on a Saturday from 10am – 3pm on 11^th and 18^th December to accommodate those donators who are unable to drop off their gifts during the week.

Jan Lee and Anne Rehill from HPWA and Sarah Blanchard and Sam Hanson of Bakers Solicitors with Noddy Holder

One week in to the appeal and still five weeks to go to Xmas.  Most of you probably haven’t even started your Xmas shopping yet, but lots of you may have written your ‘shopping lists’.  This year you could always add another gift to that list – for a vulnerable or disadvantaged child in your local area – a deed that would really help to make their Christmas extra special.

It doesn’t even have to make a noticeable dent in your pocket with so many shops and supermarkets promoting really good deals this year.

Organisations and businesses may also like to help by donating gifts, having an internal whip round or just by bringing the appeal to the attention of their staff.

You may even find that your children were so inundated with gifts last Xmas that some of them ultimately found their way up into the attic, still in their packaging, only to be forgotten about and unused for years.  It is these unwanted and unused new toys, or any surplus that you may have brought in for this Xmas, which could bring tremendous joy to under privileged children during the season of good will, the appeal is targeting. 

This  week Glossop’s Blue Watch from Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service showed that they were behind the appeal by lending their support.   Station Manager Peter Arnfield said ‘Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service are pleased to be associated with the Christmas toy appeal and urge all members of the public to give generously to this worthwhile cause. We would also like to take this opportunity to remind the public to take extra care during the festive period and ensure they have a working smoke alarm, anyone requiring a Free home fire safety check call 01457 85223. ”

The recipient organization of the Bakers Solicitors’ Xmas Toy Appeal will be High Peak Womens’ Aid.  Their aim is to provide support  to women and children experiencing domestic abuse, which also includes running a refuge offering safe accommodation for those who need to remove themselves from danger.

We are appealing for NEW toys and gifts that will appeal to children of all ages up to 16, so remember teenagers are just as worthy and deserving at Christmas as well as the children at the younger end of the spectrum.  So in addition to toys for younger children, the appeal is looking for gift donations that would be of interest to teenagers such as cosmetics, toiletries and fashion items for the girls – or computer games, toiletries, CDs , fashion jewellery and gimmicky presents for the boys.

Ian Baker from Bakers Solicitors comments ‘As well as collecting and storing these gifts ready for distribution to the children in time for Xmas, we at Bakers Solicitors have had tremendous fun organising the appeal which gets all involved really in to the Christmas spirit.  Christmas is very much about ‘giving’ and making the festivities special for everyone, and this year we hope that some of you will consider extending your generosity to the children supported by High Peak Women’s Aid.’

Toys and gifts should be dropped at Bakers Solicitors, High Street West (look out for the Toy Appeal banner) from 9am – 5pm on a Monday to Friday, where they will be held in safekeeping before forwarding to High Peak Women’s Aid.  Nearer to Xmas Bakers will open on a Saturday to accommodate those donators who are unable to drop off their gifts during the week.

Glossop's Blue Watch join Bakers' Lisa Tinsley to support the Toy Appeal