Names and faces

Gillian Rawson
Legal Administrator

Gillian has recently been appointed as ASCL's legal administrator and in this new role she will support the new solicitor post as well as Assistant General Secretary Bob Carstairs.

On joining the association in 1990, she was employed as receptionist and subsequently became junior secretary assisting with general office duties in the admin department. She then became PA to Bob Carstairs, for the first time.

She continued in this role for several years before being promoted to work as PA to the then deputy general secretary, Russell Clarke, and in September 2002 to the current deputy general secretary, Martin Ward.

Prior to joining the association, Gillian worked for a firm of city-based architects.

She lives with her partner Nick and two cats in Leicester. Her hobbies include socialising, cooking, gardening and playing golf (very badly).

Richard Bird
Legal Consultant

Richard Bird describes his work as legal consultant as a mixture of legal triage nursing, journalism and representation.

He began as an English and drama teacher, first in the independent sector and later in Crawley New Town and on the Nottinghamshire coalfield, and was one of the founders of the Community Education Association.

From deputy headship in West Suffolk he became principal of Casterton Community College in Leicestershire/Rutland with additional responsibility for parts of the youth service, adult education, child care and recreation. He was SHA area and branch secretary, Council member and chair of the foundation and voluntary schools committee.

Away from the law books, he enjoys travel to exotic locations, sailing, walking, watching Leicester Tigers and traditional music; he has a passion for reading anything and everything.

Richard has three children: one in marketing, one in law and one in Mozambique when last heard from.