Nigel Nash MBE retired at the end of March 2019 and is much missed at Cafcass and more widely for his national work as a Champion of Trans issues in Cafcass and locally as the
long-standing Convener of the Brighton & Hove Lesbian & Gay Christian Movement and co-Chair of the Sussex Family Justice Board.
The new co-Chairs of the Sussex Family Justice Board will be Andrea Holtham (Cafcass) and Adam Smith (1COR), who continues in post.
Nigel’s successor at Cafcass is Tracey Stow.
For 2019/2020, the Chair of the Sussex FJB Performance Committee is Diane McBrinn (Westgate) and that of the Private Law Committee is Linda Taylor (Westgate).
HHJ Bedford continues as the Designated Family Judge for Sussex.
On 1st April 2019 HHJ Lusty was welcomed to Brighton Family Court – having been newly sworn in as a Circuit Judge.
As a result of the current concern about the wellbeing of those who work in the family justice system, a working group has been established locally chaired by HHJ Bedford and consisting of John Stebbing (Stephen Rimmer & Co), Claire Raitt (Fitzhugh Gates), Christopher Stringer (Westgate), Mary Vogiatzis (Stephen Rimmer & Co), Adam Smith (1COR) and Natasha Watson (Brighton & Hove City Council and a past co-Chair of the Local FJB). Natasha has also been appointed by the President of the Family Division to sit as a member of the
Family Justice Council (which advises the Family Justice Board nationally) and whose aim is to promote an inter-disciplinary approach to family justice,
monitor the system and promote continuous improvement in the system.
The invaluable Vanessa Long (1COR) has just finished her term as the administrator of the Sussex FJB and is to be followed in post by Rachel Gimson (1COR)