Taunton Barr

by Brian Cain

CHAPTER TWENTY

  A protest on the Taunton Barr win at Wincanton had been lodged with the BHA, the management structure was in kayos with Ashby gone, Beaker when summoned refused to take the position of CEO. An interim protest committee was hastily convened and the matter heard and defeated, only one thing was missing, evidence to protest claims. The committee appeared to hold this point relevant, but a lawyer sent by the protest group felt this was irrelevant and questioned why all of a sudden a president was set that challenged the validity of the past years protests. Joan Williams headed the protest hearing and was now looking like she would cop the CEO position as people started to run for cover just on the premises of new blood with undefined direction. The domino effect was on a runaway path, Joan Williams a retired judge and member of the bar, she had owned and run horses for forty years but seldom became involved in the nuts and bolts that controlled them. She had become an advisor to law for the BHA on invitation, she was being paid a handsome sum to oversee aspects of law for the organisation and spent one day a week in an office advising on the information she was supplied for the past year. She was about to get a premise on market intervention by major stakeholders within, and outside, of the horse racing industry. And the stakeholders and commercial interests were about to get a shock as their grip on control got a broadside. As Williams looked through the documents tabled at the protest, her face became etched with a mixture of anger and realisation. She looked sternly at the lawyer presenting the protest lowering her glasses to the tip of her nose and looking over them. Williams an extremely well presented senior wearing a plain blue summer dress, a dark curled perm, and two face lifts spoke firmly. 'You have presented protests of this quality for the last year and they have been upheld, is that what you are saying.'

  'Well yes, can't see what the fuss is about.'

  She looked about the table for a face she trusted. 'I want Beaker in here now please.'

  The man replied. 'Beaker refused the offer of CEO, he is busy in his office.'

  'I am aware of the circumstances and where he is, what part of the request did you fail to understand.'

  The man rose to his feet. 'I'll em, go and get him.'

  While Williams waited she shuffled through paperwork she had never seen before, she noticed the protest lawyer fiddling with his phone under the table, she became irate. 'Put your phone on the table and keep your hands off it.'

  'I beg your pardon but I have been free to use my phone here as I please in the past.'

  'Are you a member of the bar.'

  'Well of course.'

  'Then you would be aware of Westminster protocol of permitted conduct in a courtroom.'

  'This is a protest hearing for the BHA, you must realise that during the course of these things misunderstandings can easily overcome with a mere phone call.'

  'Use your phone again and I will have you removed from this hearing and suggest to the bar you are counselled regarding contempt.'

  'Now come on this protest is about blatant misuse of systems for financial gain.'

  'I totally agree with you, whom is responsible is far from being established.'

  Some members of the committee looked sideways at each other with developing smiles. The lawyer crossed his arms looking aggressively intolerant. Beaker entered the room, he stood at the end of the table, some way from Williams as the table seated forty persons and was a long rectangle taking up most of the room, she raised her voice. 'Ah Beaker thank you for attending promptly. I have some paper work here, quite a lot of it, this gentleman, a lawyer, tells me he has overseen the last twelve months of protests lodged to this forum in this manner and the protests have all been upheld. Is this correct.'

  'Yes.'

  'But you have passed on all the legal paperwork to me over the past year and I have never seen some of these documents and never has been stated the fact a member of the bar was representing protesters.'

  'It's to avoid intervention that may affect the status and well being of financial stakeholders.'

  'It is clearly defined in the BHA constitution that all protest and changes to standards and law governed by the BHA will be in accordance with the protocols of common law.'

  'I think you might find that it also states that these are guidelines that not need be set in stone.'

  'I can assure you the premise of western law is set in stone, I have been misled for the past year, I want all relevant documentation on my desk involving the protests conducted and upheld under these circumstances.'

  The lawyer stood. 'I object to this rampart intervention of something that is nothing to do with you.'

  Williams shot to her feet. 'How dare you!'

  Steve Ciggins stood, he was sitting next to Williams, he was a barrister and had been on a full range of BHA committees for some years. His suit was that cunningly tailored it left his hands and face completely naked. 'Could you please sit down Joan.' Joan sat down with a half smile. 'Everyone's seen the case submitted, have you come to a recommendation Joan.'

  'Yes this protest is defeated without recall.'

  'All those in favour raise their hand.' There were twenty gathered attempting to manage several serious issues of the day, only six were on the protest committee but twenty hands were raised, twenty one including Beaker. 'The matter is carried in the favour of the defence without due course.'

  The lawyer gathered his things and fumbled them into his brief case. 'This is outrageous, you haven't heard the last of this.'

  'Winds changed direction, I'd quit while I was ahead if I was you ol man.'

  'You seem to forget the last two cronies that pulled stunts like this had their carers stoped in their tracks.'

  Joan Williams stood up and Ciggins was not game enough to tempt fate and sat down, he watched stone faced. 'Beaker, call the police, someone down that end secure the door. I'm making a citizens arrest.'

  The lawyer looked at her motionless, she held her ground with a scowling look. 'You're serious.'

  'You're damn right I'm serious, you want to play lumberjacks you can handle your end of the log.'

  He looked around the room at the glaring faces, some with wide smiles. 'You bastards, you'll regret this.'

  Ciggins spoke up to him. 'Quit while your ahead man.'

  He hesitated, picked up his bag and began to walk to the door. 'I'll convey your decision to my clients.'

  Joan spoke to the two committee members standing in front of the door. 'Please let him out.'

  He turned to her in the door. 'And the ramifications.'

  'I read a book once written by a wise man, said there was a vast difference between the misguided and the evil, now the path is clearer the choice is yours.'

  He turned and left with a sneer.

  Williams left the meeting for five minutes to speak to Beaker, she gave the gathered time to discuss direction. She returned with Beaker whom continued to resist attempts to take the CEO position, Williams gave the members a chance to leave if continuing would affect their standing on the grounds of incrimination. A few admitted persistence could cause them problems but the gathered lifted spirits by promising support as they stated they would rather soldier on. Going by current form, Ciggins nominated Joan Williams to the CEO position backed by all committee members, she insisted Beaker take the job but he still refused. He explained he was one of the perpetrators that pushed the system to within a hairs breadth of social condemnation. He would however take up the position when things settled and circumstances had been neutralised to the point of widespread social acceptance. He insisted the influence of Joan Williams had levelled the playing field and would be looked upon as a neutral influence for the future. Joan Williams was appointed CEO that afternoon and got down to work, she sent Beaker to see Winston Blake.