Gainsborough: Lady bailiff visits luncheon club

Jean told the group of ladies that a bailiff’s job is the second oldest profession in the world, and is an officer of the Court Of Law of Distress for the Rent Act.

She explained the different categories of bailiff are county court bailiffs, certified or freelance, all of which have different rules.

Jean then went on to talk to the group about how she herself came to join the profession.

Running a business with her husband in the 1960s and 1970s meant that bad debts were dealt with by the County Court bailiffs.

This stirred an interest in Jean, and on her husband’s suggestion, she enrolled onto a course to learn the job herself.

She passed the exams with flying colours, but was thwarted at every juncture by men telling her that a bailiff’s bond had never been issued to a woman.

But after a lengthy and arduous struggle, Jean finally achieved her goal of becoming a certified bailiff.

Jean’s hilarious anecdotes gave listeners an interesting and informative insight into the trials and tribulations of getting her all-important certification.

The Gainsborough and District Ladies Luncheon Club meet on the second Thursday of every month at 12pm at the Weston Rooms on Hickman Street.