As we continue to settle into our new home in Montpellier, Cheltenham, we’re keen to become an active part of the local community. Supporting the Cheltenham Literature Festival is one of the ways we’re doing that, and this year we are proud to sponsor Sophie Raworth: Running on Air.
As a firm with more than 215 years of history, we understand the value of heritage, expertise and the role established organisations like ours can play in their communities. Cheltenham Literature Festival shares that sense of history and there’s a real feeling of pride in seeing our banner displayed alongside other brilliant local businesses.
The themes Sophie will be discussing, of mental and physical balance, focus, determination and pushing ourselves to achieve our goals resonated with us as a firm. We work closely with our clients to help them navigate challenges and achieve their ambitions, so Sophie’s story felt particularly relevant.
Alison McCormack, CEO of Brethertons, said: “As a Cheltenham resident, I’ve attended the Literature Festival every year for the last few years with friends and family, and it’s something I look forward to enormously. We’re very lucky to have such a fantastic event on our doorstep.
“Over the years, festival highlights have included seeing John Humphrys, Michael Palin, William Boyd, Fraser Nelson, as well as food writer Claudia Roden. I love the political debates hosted by The Times and we sponsored an event with former England cricket captain Mike Atherton last year, which was a particularly special experience.
“What makes the festival so distinctive, though, is about much more than the individual events. It’s the atmosphere around the town and the enthusiasm people have for sharing ideas, discovering new books and hearing from people they admire and whose writing they love.
“I’m always impressed by the volunteers who work so hard behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly. We often see them in the park early in the morning or later in the evening, preparing for the day ahead. I’ve already told my husband that, as soon as we retire, we’ll be applying to become Festival volunteers!”
Although Brethertons is a national law firm with 170 people across four offices, the move to Cheltenham represents an exciting new chapter for the firm.
Alison said: “We’re conscious that we’re still the ‘new firm’ locally. Supporting the Literature Festival gives us an opportunity to raise our profile while contributing to something that local people genuinely value.
“We believe that being part of a community means more than simply having an office there. Every day, we support our clients in the communities where they live and work, providing expert legal advice to help them through important moments in their lives. Supporting Cheltenham Festivals is another way we can make a positive contribution.
“As we continue to put down roots in Cheltenham, we’re looking forward to building relationships, supporting local initiatives and getting to know the community better. Being part of the Literature Festival is a great place to start, and we’re proud to play a small part in celebrating everything that makes Cheltenham such a special place to live and work.”