South West Area meeting Taunton, 29th November 2001

摘要

The South-West Area met in what is becoming their regular venue, the Old Pavillion at the Somerset County Cricket Club in Taunton. Odd though this may sound, conjuring up as it does, visions of open verandas and a village hall atmosphere, it is in fact an extremely good meeting place. A large high beamed room, where one can eat round a huge single table, is served by an antechamber for the serious business. The two are linked together by a bar to help the transition from business to pleasure. The subject on this occasion was Employment Legislation. The speaker was Kevin Jones who is Head of the Employment Law Services for Clarke Wilmott and Clarke, solicitors based in Bristol and Taunton. The practice also specialises in agricultural and environmental issues. I have to admit I went to the meeting with some trepidation. What a subject for a late November evening meeting, I thought. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. Kevin Jones had my interest for the whole duration of his talk. Looking around, all the others present seemed similarly intrigued. In his characteristically dry introduction Peter Howard said that Clarke Willmott and Clarke had dug him out of a few holes in the past. Having listened to Kevin Jones speak, I can well believe it. Thelaw is an exact discipline, well, perhaps that's not quite accurate, but it's certainly one that precludes easy precis, so a general outline of the subjects is all that will be attempted.