Did you know that Abraham Lincoln and Charles Darwin were born not only in the same year (1809), but also on the same day (12 February)? Obiter didn’t, until we delved into the history books to find out what was going on in the world 200 years ago.

Another new arrival in 1809 was Sharman Law LLP, or at least its predecessor firm, which was established by one Francis John Budd in Bedford’s St Pauls Square. Sharman’s bicentenary was recently marked by a civic dinner at the Harpur Suite, Bedford, attended by a host of local luminaries, including the high sheriff of Bedfordshire (pictured with Sharman’s partners Philip Elliott, Anthony Northey, Ann Pryer and John Moore, among others). Senior partner Northey, who is also vice president of the Notaries Society of England and Wales, says the Gazette wrote about Sharman’s 175th birthday back in 1984. It therefore behoves Obiter to wish the firm ‘many happy returns’ once again. And watch this space in July 2034.