Read on Twitter
Yesterday my colleague John Collins died. Any account of John’s long and rich life will first record that he was called to the Bar in 1956 (almost 40 years before he became my first Head of Chambers), and practiced continuously from then until his death.
In that period he was Head of Chambers at Pearl Chambers, 9 Woodhouse Square, and for a time (jointly) at Zenith Chambers; all in Leeds.
He appeared in the House of Lords in Hill v Chief Constable of West Yorkshire [1988] and in the Supreme Court in Ilott v Mitson [2017]; acting for the Claimant throughout on a Pro Bono basis.
He sat as part-time Judge for 28 years. He stood as a Liberal Party candidate for Parliament.
His recall of caselaw (no matter how obscure) was legendary. He used to read the Weekly Law Reports on the bus to work, and one would often find his bus tickets as bookmarks in the volumes in Chambers library.
He was unfailing polite to all he came across, whilst remaining utterly fearless.
John never drove (once when asked he replied ‘not to the standard required by the man from the ministry’) and from time to time I would give him a lift home.
In return John would patiently answer my questions about law, religion, politics and family. He was endlessly knowledgable.
It is perhaps odd to describe a man in his 80’s as having his life cut short, but it certainly feels that way. He continued to have so much to give.
However, what I will most remember about John is his kindness, his compassion and his humanity.
I will miss him terribly.
