A charity cricket tournament made a successful return to Bristol last week, raising more than £1,000 for the Avon and Bristol Law Centre.
The annual Anthony Baker QC Memorial Shield was held at Frenchay Cricket Club on Tuesday, August 4 and pitched six-a-side teams of enthusiastic businessmen against one another.
The competition is named after Anthony Barker QC, former Head of Chambers and of the Criminal Group who died from cancer in 2012. The event began in Birmingham in 2013 raising money for cancer related charities, branching out to Bristol last year in support of local charities with plans to extend it to London next year.
The Avon and Bristol Law Centre provides specialist legal advice and representation to people living in and around Bristol who could not otherwise afford access to justice. It relies on donations and grants from local councils to enable it to keep providing free legal advice.
The businesses put into bat were law firms No5 Chambers, Burgess Salmon LLP, Lyons Davidson, Withy King LLP, Lewis Nedas & Co, Avon & Bristol Law Centre and planners David Lock Associates and Tetlow King Planning.
Roger Berry, chairman of the Law Centre, attended the tournament and presented the winner’s shield to Withy King who beat the No5 team in the final. The other two semi-finalist were Lewis Nedas and David Lock Associates.
Mr Berry said: “Avon and Bristol Law Centre very much appreciates the support of No5 Chambers and all those who took part in the Tournament. The money raised will further our work in providing free legal advice and representation to people who otherwise would be denied access to justice.”
Jonathan Derrington, a barrister with No5 based in Bristol, said: “We had a fantastic day of cricket played in the most superb spirit with the added bonus of raising funds for a charity close to our heart.
“On behalf of No5 I would like to thank Frenchay CC for their hospitality, the umpires, players and all those businesses and individuals who donated raffle prizes enabling us to smash our £1,000 fundraising target. I know that everyone who took part is already looking forward to next year’s event.”
Award winning No5 Chambers is one of the UK’s premier sets of barristers’ chambers with offices in Bristol, Birmingham, London and East Midlands and boasts more than 240 barristers and 28 silks.