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Category: Solas News

  • Aberdeen Branch Newsletter, November 2025

    Aberdeen Branch Newsletter, November 2025

    The Aberdeen branch held our graduation dinner on 30th October 2025 with Gary Findlay, Josh Buchan and Lynn Barnett receiving their diplomas.

    Lorraine McLeod, Barbara Duckworth and Shirley Sargent attended the Dundee Dinner and AGM this year. Thanks for Dundee branch for hosting.

    We continue to see many joiningthe Microsoft Teams CPD Seminars We need 2 new committee members. This is not an onerous task with only about 4 meetings a year which are being held by Microsoft Teams. Anyone interested please contact us.

    We are also looking for a new Branch Secretary following Joyce’s retirement. We wish Joyce all the best and thank her for all her hard work and dedication.

    Your branch is here to work for you, please help by supporting us.

    I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2024 and look forward to seeing you all next year.

  • Glasgow Branch Newsletter, November 2025

    Glasgow Branch Newsletter, November 2025

    This is my last newsletter as I will be stepping down as President of Glasgow Branch at the end of March 2026.

    The Role of President is usually a 2-3 year term however as most of you will be aware I have been in this Role for a good few years, so I feel that now is the time to hand this over to new hands. I was ‘held to ransom’ in the corridor of a hotel in Inverness many years ago by Shirley Green and Elizabeth Brawley and convinced to join the SOLAS Glasgow Branch Committee.

    I have had many roles throughout the years and have not regretted one moment of it. I have made friends and colleagues for life, so thank you very much ladies I have absolutely loved my term as President and it has opened up many exciting opportunities for me personally and professionally.

    I have loved being part of so many of the members Graduations etc, it has honestly been a pleasure and an honour.

    Thank you for having me. I will still remain on the Glasgow Branch as a Committee Member and remain as National Treasurer for my sins, so you are not quite rid of me yet.

    Our new 2026 Glasgow Branch President will be the lovely Jade Blair. Jade is young, enthusiastic and will hopefully bring some new and exciting changes to the Branch.

    I wish you all the best in the Role Jade. You will be fantastic!

  • Administrator Report, November 2025

    Administrator Report, November 2025

    Well, that’s me in my fourth year of being the SOLAS Administrator. I think I’m getting there! It’s been a very productive year, and it was great to see so many delegates at the Seminar on 11 September in Perth.

    We had 98 members and non‑members attending, along with five sponsors and their helpers. The speakers were Euan Fleming from BTO; SJ Macdonald and Michelle Young from WJM; Matthew Thomson from Lockton; and Alex Merton from Harper MacLeod. All of the speakers were very engaging, and the feedback from delegates was overwhelmingly positive.

    Our main sponsor was Andrew Miller from Estate Research, who also gave a short talk on the day. Additional support came from Savendale Insurance Services, The Scottish Building Society, Hampden Bank and Currencies Direct.

    The next national webinar will take place in March 2026 and will once again be an update from the Law Society. As agreed by General Council, the March webinar will be held online, while the private client seminar in September will continue to be held in person at the same venue. Topics for both events are still to be confirmed.

    I am pleased to report a very good return of subscriptions and CPDs. Please remember that two hours of structured CPD must include SOLAS webinars or seminars. Any member who has not met the deadline of 31 December will be sent a 14‑day letter with a £10 late payment fee. If we don’t hear from you after that period, I will be on the phone!

    During October, diaries were sent out to all members who had previously requested one. Going forward, diaries will be handed out at the September Seminar and the November Dinner/AGM, as postage costs have increased significantly. If you are unable to attend these events and still require a diary, I can post one out at the end of October or beginning of November.

    Please let me know if you no longer wish to receive a diary.