Solicitor gets a piece of the action

Join the TA and have some time for yourself - that's not the official message coming out of these pictures from Nottingham firm Rothera Dowson, which has taken on senior commercial property solicitor Tom Redgate - or Lieutenant-Colonel Redgate, as he's known outside the office - and agreed to him spending a day a week dedicated to his new role commanding 73 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers), the Territorial Army's biggest Royal Engineer regiment, which supports RAF front-line fighter squadrons.

Expounding the benefits of what Mr Redgate is doing for the country through the TA, managing partner Jane George (pictured seated, top) also noted: 'There is the personal benefit he will gain from the life/work balance being able to pursue his military ambitions will provide.' This sentiment is somewhat amplified by the presence at the rear of the picture of commercial property partner Amanda Redgate, who just happens to be Tom's wife and works two rooms away in the office.

Obiter rang and asked whether his real motivation in all this TA mullarkey was to get a bit of time to himself, but Mr Redgate assures us it's all one big happy family in the office.

And just to prove that commanding doesn't mean you don't get your hands dirty, we also picture him training with his troops as they prepare for the annual NATO bridge-building competition.

'It's just a massive Meccano kit,' Lieutenant Colonel Redgate explains, but let's hear no suggestion that it's all simply big toys for big boys.