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Legal Eagle Is A Good Sport

29/04/2008

Rugby and fishing help solicitor take care of business The Bolton News

Jonathan Shorrock was a regular on the wing for Clitheroe Rugby Club’s second team.But away from the mud and scrums, he is a partner at Kippax Beaumont Lewis (KBL) Solicitors in Mawdsley Street, Bolton, and president of the Bolton area of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Sport is a big influence in his life, demonstrated by his longevity in such a physically demanding activity like rugby. He finally hung up his boots aged 55 at the end of the 2005-06 season because of a back injury — and jokes he was the “the oldest winger in town.” He also mentions that he scored his last league try against Bolton.

Mr Shorrock was born and raised in Accrington. He attended grammar school in the town and moved back there in 1991 after a spell living in Manchester where he began his law career. Mr Shorrock trained at Addleshaw Sons & Latham and qualified in 1985. In 1990, he became a partner at Addleshaw Booth, progressing to head of corporate law, until he joined Weightmans in 2002 to set up a corporate practice. He came to KBL in April, 2005, after deciding he wanted to move away from Manchester. He said: “I thought there was one move left in me at my time of life, so I had a chat with a friend in legal recruitment who introduced me to KBL. “Martin Kippax had just been elected to the golf Open Championship Committee and they wanted somebody with a corporate background. “It became clear that there was an opportunity that I found attractive and was a city-based corporate lawyer with the kind of experience they needed, so it was an easy fit.”

Mr Shorrock has one daughter, Katie, aged 19, who is currently living in Perth, Australia, and pursuing a career as a stage actress. His son Jacob, aged 18, is studying for a national diploma in sport and is also a rugby fan. Although he has given up playing rugby, Mr Shorrock is taking a referee qualification and also manages the Clitheroe Colts youth team.

Another of his passions is fly fishing and fly tying, which he describes as therapeutic and satisfying. He said: “Fly tying is very therapeutic. One of the problems with this sort of profession is that you don’t actually produce anything. “There is a lot of intellect and craft, but no product. Being able to sit down with a glass of malt whisky to spend half an hour making something that requires skill and application with a physical product at the end, is satisfying. “Your mind is in the water while you are tying, working out how it will do its job, but you end up with a draw full of flies that will never see the water!”

Fishing also plays a strong part in his family life. He said: “My son and I have held a fishing competition three or for times a year since he was seven. He always catches the biggest fish, but I always catch the most. When my daughter comes, she always catches the first — it happens every time.”