A Kenilworth batsman who hit a record-breaking double century has been named our Player of the Month, in association with Leamington solicitors Blythe Liggins.

Each month, we celebrate the deeds of our cricketers, with the winner being presented with a box of six new cricket balls for their club, provided by Blythe Liggins.

Our Player of the Month for August is Dave Edmunds, 32, of Kenilworth Cricket Club, who smashed his way to a 1st team XI league record with an unbeaten 207 in their drawn game against Aston in Warwickshire’s Division One.

Having played for Kenilworth for 20 years, Dave is the first in the club’s 110-year history to achieve a double century and has previously racked up 15 centuries since beginning his senior cricketing career aged just 13.

Dave said: “My previous highest score was 163 not out so there was a certain amount of pressure as I approached the double century.

“There were five overs remaining, so myself and my teammate Adrian Seller decided to make a big push for runs and were able to gain 63 in the final overs – 55 of which were from myself.

“It wasn’t until the final couple of overs that the realisation hit me – I was on for 200 and feeling on good form.

“Approaching the final over, I remained on target at 191. I then hit two sixes and one four to finish on 207 not out.”

Edmunds was cheered on by team members and spectators, who urged him on as he reached the milestone, and was warmly congratulated by Aston’s team as he set his personal and club record.

Richard Thornton, joint senior partner at Blythe Liggins Solicitors. Said: “This was an historic innings in more ways than one, a fantastic achievement. I wish Dave and the other players at Kenilworth Cricket Club the best of luck for what remains of the season.”

CAPTION: Richard Thornton, joint senior partner at Blythe Liggins Solicitors, presents Andy Smith, club secretary, with Dave Edmund’s player of the month prize.

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Richard Moon, Head of the Sports Law Department at Blythe Liggins LLP, played in a rugby match this weekend to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Harlequins Rugby Club.

The match was between two invitational teams which were selected by former rugby legends, Bob Hillier, a former England Captain and full-back and Jason Leonard, former President of the RFU & a Rugby World Cup winner.

Richard was invited to play for Jason Leonard’s XV against the Bob Hillier XV.

Both teams included many former international rugby players from the last 30 years including Peter Winterbottom, Micky Skinner, Will Greenwood and Jason himself. The game, watched by around 5,000 spectators, was narrowly won by the Jason Leonard XV.

Richard said, “After the game I vowed that this would definitely be my last ever game of rugby but I said that in 1997 when I retired from the first-class game but this time I mean it”!

Caption: Richard Moon, Partner at Blythe Liggins LLP, Jason Leonard and Chris White, international rugby referee.

It was a family affair for our Player of the Month Matt Edwards after the Warwickshire County Council staff captain completed his maiden league century while batting with his dad.

Each month, in association with solicitors Blythe Liggins, we celebrate a local cricketing success, with the winner being presented with a box of six new balls for his club by the Leamington law firm.

Council Staff skipper Matt, 26, led from the front during his side’s 59-run victory over Wellesbourne seconds in Division Two of the Cotwold Hills League, blasting a first competitive ton before capping off his day with a wicket and a run out.

After some initial setbacks for his team, Matt, batting at number five, immediately took the attack to the Wellesbourne, looking particularly strong off his legs and hitting some nicely timed drives back over the bowlers’ heads.

Despite a couple of wickets falling during his knock, Matt reached his century in partnership with dad Keith, who had opened the innings and was forced to retire hurt before returning to the crease.

Matt said: “My dad opened and took a ball on top of the foot, so he had to retire hurt. He then got hit on the same foot a few balls after coming back out, which I enjoyed! He was out there with me when I got my ton. I’ve scored centuries before but not in the league, so it was a nice moment.”

Matt, who has played for Staff for 10 years, finished on 106 but his afternoon’s work didn’t end there as he proceeded to take a wicket and contribute a fine bit of boundary fielding to complete a run out.

“It’s been going really well this year,” said Matt. “I’ve always classed myself as a bowler first but this season I’ve really flown with the bat. I’ve been going in at five in the league and have scored three 50s, as well as the century. I scored 87 not out against the same side last season, so they’re probably pretty fed up with me!

“It’s been a great club to be around with lots of energy and support throughout the season, which has contributed to our success on the pitch. The first team is second in the table and our second team have already been promoted from division seven in the first year of us being able to field a team.”

Richard Thornton, joint senior partner at sponsors Blythe Liggins said: “Congratulations to Matt on a hugely impressive performance. It sounds as though he and Warwickshire County Council Staff are having a tremendous season. We wish them well for the remainder of the campaign.”

CAPTION: Richard Thornton, joint senior partner at Blythe Liggins Solicitors, presents Warwickshire County Council Staff captain Matt Edwards with his prize for being named player of the month

Leamington solicitor Richard Moon will be playing alongside some of the greatest names in English rugby when he turns out for an invitation side as part of the Harlequins 150th anniversary celebrations.

Mr Moon, who is head of employment law at Leamington solicitors Blythe Liggins, has been invited to play for a star-studded side selected by England rugby legend and former RFU president Jason Leonard, who was once the world’s most-capped forward and held the world record for winning the most international caps.

His team will be playing against a side selected by Bob Hiller, the former England rugby captain and fullback whose score of 138 points was the England record at the time of his retirement.

Mr Moon, a former scrumhalf for Cambridge University, Harlequins, England and the Barbarians, said: “This is a real honour for me to have been selected by Jason, such a giant of the world rugby, and I look forward very much to playing alongside him and such luminaries as Will Greenwood, Peter Winterbottom, Mickey Skinner and other Harlequin greats.

“Although scrums will be uncontested and anybody putting in overzealous tackles will be ‘sin-binned’, my intention is to get on the field of play for a maximum of five minutes on the basis of self-preservation and a creaking body – but also to justify the rugby kit that we are to be given!” said Mr Moon, who is also a rugby commentator for BBC CWR and BBC 5 Live Sports Extra.

The match will take place on Saturday, August 20 at the ‘Stoop’, the Harlequins ground.

Caption: Richard Moon with the Harlequins jersey he wore in the John Player Cup-winning side of 1988.

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A seam-bowling all-rounder who knocked his opponents for six has been named our Player of the Month, in association with Leamington solicitors Blythe Liggins.

Each month, we celebrate the deeds of our cricketers, with the winner being presented with a box of six new cricket balls for their club, provided by Blythe Liggins.

Brinder Phagura, 20, was playing for Kenilworth Wardens when he turned in a hugely impressive performance with the new ball, taking 6-38 from 15 overs against Knowle & Dorridge in the sides’ Birmingham and District League Premier Division clash.

From Great Barr, Phagura has come through Warwickshire age groups while playing his club cricket for West Bromwich. He moved to Kenilworth Wardens for the start of this season and is thriving in his new surrounds, having so far taken 31 wickets at an average of just over 12. He also averages nearly 20 with the bat, having score more than 150 runs.

It was his performance against Knowle & Dorridge, however, which has seen him crowned our cricketer of the month. In a match from which Wardens claimed a winning draw, having restricted their opponents to 129-9 chasing 214-9, Phagura bowled one of his victims, had two nicking off, one caught in front of the bat and two lbw.

He said: “I’ve been opening the bowling and taking wickets fairly regularly but Knowle & Dorridge was my stand-out performance. Of the six I took, five were ‘proper wickets’ which I enjoyed.

“I only joined Wardens this season and I’m really enjoying it – probably more than I thought I would if I’m honest. I live near West Bromwich, so it’s a 25-mile trip each week but it’s good. They are a great guys and we’re playing at a good standard.”

The all-rounder has also been playing Minor Counties cricket for Staffordshire and is hoping to build on a promising showing so far this season.

“Being part of the Staffordshire set up has made me enjoy me cricket more than I’ve ever done and has helped me turn in some performances which have helped contribute to a winning team, so hopefully I can build on a good season.”

A spokesman for Blythe Liggins said: “Congratulations to Brinder. He is obviously a talented young cricketer and we’re delighted to present him with his prize.”

A wills and probate specialist from Blythe Liggins Solicitors in Leamington is set to run the first in a series of free advice clinics at a Warwickshire care home.

The surgery, on Thursday, July 28 from 2pm until 4pm, will be hosted by solicitor Jaz Virk at Priors House, a purpose-built care home in Blackdown, just outside Leamington. The aim is to offer advice to older members of the community, along with care home residents and their families, in a safe and friendly environment.

Mawson Chipchase, from Care UK, which runs Priors House, said: “The idea is to offer support to our residents, and the wider community, because it can be daunting when first dipping your toe into the water when it comes to later-life legal advice.

“With Jaz we wanted to offer an informal drop-in type surgery where people can know there is no pressure or reason to worry.”

The surgery is the first of six planned drop-in events at the care home in Old Milverton Lane and will cover areas such as wills and codicils, along with advice on preparing Powers of Attorney and applying for Deputyship in instances where family members have lost capacity.

Mrs Virk, who specialises in the administration of estates and joined Blythe Liggins earlier this year, said: “I’m looking forward to visiting Priors House as part of this initiative to inform and advise people in later life on what legal options are available to them.”

Caption: Jaz Virk, Solicitor. Wills & Probate Department

A new restaurant has opened in Warwick serving home-cooked Indian food and locally crafted beers.

Owned by brothers Mashuk and Bokul Miah, the restaurant in Castle Street has been named Jambavan. Mashuk Miah, who lives in Leamington and has been 25 years in the business with restaurants in Leicester, said: “We chose this unusual name for the restaurant because Jambavan is the King of Bears in an Indian epic and it establishes our link with the county town, as Warwickshire’s emblem is the Bear and Ragged Staff.”

“We have 70 covers and will be sourcing local fresh produce and stocking a variety of local craft ales. In addition to our Indian meals, we will also be serving sandwiches and snacks in the future – and creating some new cocktails, alongside the more traditional ones.”

Nick Watts, a commercial solicitor from Blythe Liggins who negotiated the lease, said: “Warwick and Leamington have become very popular with diners from all over the region for their quality eateries, and there is no doubt that Jambavan will add to that list of successful restaurants.”

CAPTION: Blythe Liggins commercial solicitor Nick Watts (left) with Mashuk Miah outside the new Jambavan restaurant in Warwick.

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Excellent communication skills and proficiency in Microsoft packages are required together with a lively ’can do’ attitude and an ability to work as part of a team. Experience of the legal sector would be an advantage but is not essential.
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We also have an opportunity for an experienced secretary to join our busy family department. If you have good secretarial skills, and would like to be part of a successful team, we look forward to hearing from you.

Please apply with CV and covering letter to :jms@blytheliggins.co.uk

15th June 2016

The main sponsor of next week’s (June 12) 4,000-strong Two Castles run between Warwick and Kenilworth is asking any runner who has to pull out to let the organisers know so that someone else can have their place.

Richard Thornton, joint senior partner at Leamington solicitors Blythe Liggins, who are sponsoring the race for 11th consecutive year, said: “It is inevitable that some people who were lucky enough to get a place will now find themselves unable to attend. We have 650 hopefuls on the waiting list and I would urge anyone who has to pull out to cancel now so that their place can be offered to the next one on the waitlist.”

Mr Thornton urges non-runners to either contact organisers Kenilworth Rotary Club and Leamington Cycling & Athletics Club or, alternatively, to find a substitute and hand them the race number when they receive it – after they have logged in to their Fullonsport account and changed the registrant’s details to those of the substitute. Without a race number there will be no entry to the start at Warwick Castle.

In addition to sponsorship, Blythe Liggins will also be fielding a team of about 30 runners, manning a water station and providing marshals for the event, which raises around £100,000 for charity.

The 34th year of the race, will start at Warwick Castle at 9.00 am on Sunday June 12 with the winner expected at Kenilworth Castle just over 30 minutes later.

CAPTION: Two Castles race organiser Philip Southwell (left) with Richard Thornton from race sponsor Blythe Liggins.

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Leamington solicitor Jaz Virk has celebrated her new job with a beer at the House of Commons.

The lawyer, who has just joined the wills & probate department at Leamington solicitors Blythe Liggins, was at the Palace of Westminster with her husband Surj, where his creation, Empress Ale, is being served as a guest beer.

Jaz, who lives in Leamington, said: “I love being a solicitor, especially back in Leamington, and I thought the House of Commons was an exciting place to celebrate my new job with a glass of Empress Ale, which my husband created and is brewed in Leicestershire,” she said.

Jaz, who specialises in the administration of estates, is a former pupil of King Henry VIII School in Coventry. She gained her LLB at the University of Keele, attended the College of Law in Chester and qualified as a private client solicitor in 2003.

She has joined Blythe Liggins after five years with Sydney Mitchell in Birmingham.

CAPTION: Jaz and Surj Virk with a glass of Empress Ale at the House of Commons.

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