The A to Z guide of equal opportunities

Mr Michael Malone, aged 57, of Egerton, said at the official launch at the Tate Gallery in Liverpool: "I have seen a significant change in attitudes during the last 20 years.

"Responsible employers are now looking for constructive advice on how to comply with equal opportunities legislation.

"Some of them also see commercial benefits from doing so.

"Our objectives in this handbook have been to guide employers and practitioners through the complexities of the legislation and give them practical advice in a digestible form."

Mr Malone, a solicitor with Manchester and Liverpool law firm Mace & Jones, has written the new Tolley's Equal Opportunities Handbook with his head of department, Martin Edwards.

It is an A-Z reference guide covering all aspects of disability, sex, age and race discrimination and is intended to be the definitive source of information on discrimination in the workplace.

Mr Malone and Mr Edwards were invited to write the book by legal publishers Butterworth Tolley.

"The sheer volume of development within the field of equal opportunities and the increasing complexity of employment law in general means that now, more than ever, it is essential that organisations are fully aware of the litigious and sensitive issues surrounding the area," Mr Edwards said.

Mr Malone, who has developed a national reputation for his work in equal opportunities, recently remained true to his principles when he and his wife set out to choose a golf club.

He said: "My wife Kate and I recently decided that golf would be an ideal sport we could start playing and continue with in our declining years.

"However, it is common knowledge that there are many golf clubs in which women have second or third class status and are banned from parts of the premises.

"As people with very strong views on equal opportunities, we were determined to join a club that offered full membership and equal status to women -- which is why we joined Turton Golf Club."