History of the firm

Mr Colin Edwin Brown Solicitor a native of Bridgewater in Somerset came to Whitby in 1914 and set up in practice at 4 Flowergate Whitby. In 1918 Colin Brown entered into partnership with two Scarborough Solicitors, Messrs Wilkinson & Wharton, In 1933 Colin Brown reverted to practising on his own account, ably assisted by E.M.B. Kidson (Teddy) who was initially articled to him and subsequently became his assistant solicitor continuing until Colin Brown's death in 1936. E.M.B. Kidson then continued the practice on his own account until after the Second World War when John A. Stalker joined the firm as an assistant solicitor in 1949. By this time E.M.B. Kidson's son Godfrey E. Kidson was articled to his father and upon his admission to the Roll in 1953, E.M.B. Kidson took both John Stalker and Godfrey Kidson into partnership. That parthership lasted until E.M.B. Kidson's death in 1966.

Due to the expansion of the firm, new offices were required and in 1955 the practice moved to Talbot House in Baxtergate, premises which had previously been an hotel. In 1958 Paul I.L. Bastiman joined the firm and was articled to John Stalker, subsequently being admitted in 1963. He continued as an assistant solicitor to the practice until 1966 when he left to join a practice in Southend, but returned to the firm as a partner in 1974. Richard G.B. Evans joined the firm in 1970 and was articled to John Stalker and was admitted in 1976. He remained with the firm as an assistant solicitor until becoming a partner in 1981.

There were no major changes until 1989 when Godfrey Kidson retired from the practice and a move of premises took place. In April 1989 the firm moved to its present premises at Wellington House, and took the major step of entering into the property selling market whilst continuing to offer the full range of legal services to its wide client base. Sadly, in January 1992 John Stalker died after a brave fight against cancer, leaving Paul Bastiman and Richard Evans to continue the practice.

Michael A. Crossling joined the firm as a trainee in 1993, was admitted in 1995 and entered into partnership in 2001.