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| Within the Practice - historically March 2007 - Inheritance Tax Seminar February 2007 - More Building! October 2006 - Hexham Abbey Candlelit Gala Dinner December 2005 - Office Extension April 2005 - 20 years in Practice January 2005 Tsunami Earthquake Appeal
Inheritance Tax SeminarIn March 2007 Patricia co-hosted an Inheritance Tax Seminar with colleagues from Nicholson Portnell Solicitors and Saxon Financial Advice Limited, at the Tynedale Function Suite in Hexham. The Function Suite was the ideal venue for this well-attended seminar, which attracted a large number of clients from each practice. Speakers from each practice gave a short presentation on the aspects of Inheritance Tax they regularly handle, making use of one of the families of the well-known R4 “Archers” as their test case. This format, based on a fictitious family but bringing alive examples of the very real problems that face average families these days, was greatly appreciated by the attendees, who posed many questions at the end of the presentation, and have since followed up with further more pertinent personal enquiries. With the then current Inheritance Tax threshold standing at £300,000
this tax affects many more families than it used to, with the huge
increase in property values bringing many more into the chargeable
bracket, and who wouldn’t want to avoid giving 40% of their Estate
to the Government if at all possible? If you wish to consult Patricia
on this or any other related personal tax topic, she is more than
happy to offer an initial free no-obligation consultation. Please
call Patricia on (01434) 606624 to take us up on this.
More Building!Early in 2007, just when we thought it was safe to come into the lobby, down went the dustsheets again and in came the builders once more! Yes, more alterations were in progress. This time it was to convert our small meeting room into an office for two of our staff to occupy and to split the boardroom into a slightly smaller boardroom and a replacement small meeting room. This was to make room in the main office for the two additional staff joining us in March. Fortunately the work wasn't major and was completed very quickly.
Hexham Abbey Candlelit Gala DinnerPatricia and Adrian were delighted to be able to make up a table of guests for the Gala Dinner at Hexham Abbey to launch an appeal for a multi-purpose Visitor Centre for the Abbey and town. They all enjoyed an excellent dinner and the talk by the after-dinner speaker Judith Holder, a TV producer. This was followed by a charity auction and Patricia and Adrian were pleased to be able to pledge tickets for the pantomime at the Theatre Royal over Christmas, a weekend break at their thatched cottage in Nassington, near Peterborough, and a week in their cottage at Bassenthwaite in the Lake District. These pledges contributed substantially to the funds raised on the night for the multi-purpose Visitor Centre.
Office ExtensionAfter a hectic few months, at last, in December 2005, the new extention was up and running! The former byre and garage have been refurbished to create a large filing room, and a new meeting room has been created externally. With panoramic views of the Tyne Valley, this is a spacious room for larger meetings. My former office has become a small meeting room to see clients who just call in for a brief word. The reception area too has been enlarged and comfortably furnished, with stacks of reading material for the curious client! Level access and facilities have been created for less able visitors, who are able to drive up to the office door to make life easier. In general there is more space and light, and the staff are settling in and getting used to it all. There is also a small kitchen, with a water boiler for a constant flow of coffee!
Delighted to be celebrating 20 years in Practice in April 2005From small beginnings on the kitchen table at her home in Warden, Patricia has built up her present practice to a current team of 15 in Hexham, now in the charming setting of Black House. Patricia raised her first invoices in April 1985 and is pleased to be still dealing with many of those original clients. Specialising in providing an individual service to all clients large and small, Patricia and her team pride themselves on personal contact and customised solutions. The needs of clients have changed over the years, with many more taking an active interest in their tax affairs and the legislation concerning Inheritance Tax, property purchase and Capital Gains Tax. The number of family businesses taking the route to incorporation has also increased considerably in the recent past. As the Practice grew so did Patricia’s staff numbers, prompting the move from Warden to Black House in 2000. Black House is also set to expand this year to accommodate the additional staff Patricia has recruited to meet the requirements of her growing client base.
Tsunami Earthquake AppealIn January 2005, Patricia and her staff enjoyed a super evening to raise funds for the Disaster Appeal. A table was booked at the Waterside Palace Restaurant, Forth Banks, Newcastle on Wednesday 12 January, on their Charity Appeal Night. The Restaurant was donating its takings to the Appeal, and in addition had organised a Raffle and Auction. We all enjoyed the superb Chinese Banquet, and in the presence of the Mayor and Lady Mayoress were entertained by jazz musicians in between the auction of some very diverse lots, including oriental vases, champagne, pictures, porcelain dolls, leather jackets, a day at the Lowther Horse Trials, and a day at NUFC. A professional auctioneer from Australia took over from Mr Lau in the early stages of the evening, and generated intense rivalry across the different tables, with some very exciting bidding. Patricia was delighted when her donation of a week at a cottage in the Lake District fetched the highest price of the night. The raffle also generated funds, with Patricia winning a prize for
the first time ever – a pamper day at the Gosforth Marriott. A total
of some £12,924 was raised over the evening which was pronounced
a great success by all who took part.
I am always pleased to offer an initial free hour's consultation, my main objective being to ensure that we achieve YOUR objective. Ring Tricia on 01434 606624 |
