SAD NEWS: THE DEATH OF DISTRICT JUDGE BRANCHFLOWER

I was saddened to learn yesterday of the death of District Judge George Branchflower.   This is a sad loss to his family, his friends and the legal profession.

GEORGE’S ROUTE TO THE BAR

George had an unusual route to the Bar.  He dropped out of university when he was young and was for a while a bass player in a punk rock band (they’d featured on the John Peel show  he told me).  Whilst  working on the advertising for  a gig he visited a printers. Intrigued by the work at the printers he asked about the process, this led to him working there and then taking over the business.  Having given up printing he studied law as a mature student (obtaining a first class degree). He joined 10 Park Square (which went on to merge and become Zenith Chambers) as a pupil in 1996.

George was a delight to have around in chambers, he was always friendly, always professional and it was not a great surprise when he became a judge in 2017.

I always remember once giving him a lift home when he was a pupil, to a certain area in Leeds when he then lived.  Before he got out the car he put a raincoat to cover his suit on and put his briefcase inside a plastic shopping bag.  “I get a bit of stick for wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase around here” he said.

A SAD LOSS

We all lose from not having the benefit of someone with his breadth of experience on the bench.  The only time I “appeared” in front of him was in telephone hearings but it was clear that he was a first class judge. His legal prowess can be seen in the judgment I wrote about here – tortious liability for wrongfully entering judgment in default.

I was glad to share chambers with him for 20 years. My condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.