*/
Tributes have been paid to the former President of the Family Division, Sir Nicholas Wall, following his family’s announcement of his death.
A notice in The Times newspaper said he ‘died by his own hand on 17 February 2017’. It added: ‘After years of suffering, he was recently diagnosed with a rare dementia of the fronto-temporal lobe.’
The notice included a verse from Tennyson’s poem Tithonus: ‘The woods decay, the woods decay and fall. The vapours weep their burthen to the ground. Man comes and tills the field and lies beneath. And after many a summer dies the swan.’
His successor, Sir James Munby, said: ‘On and off the bench, and to the wide admiration of those who practise in family law, Sir Nicholas often spoke with passion, and in plain language, about the importance of family life, the good practice of family law, and the proper administration and resourcing of family justice.
‘He was appropriately outspoken about the plight of children caught up in the midst of parental conflict. He expressed his deep concern again and again about the impact of domestic abuse on children and on family life.
‘Sir Nicholas’ life was one of very great achievement and he has left us a formidable and enduring legacy.’
Sir Nicholas was called to the Bar in 1969, appointed a High Court Judge in 1993, to the Court of Appeal and Privy Council in 2004 and became President of the Family Division in 2010. He was 71.
Tributes have been paid to the former President of the Family Division, Sir Nicholas Wall, following his family’s announcement of his death.
A notice in The Times newspaper said he ‘died by his own hand on 17 February 2017’. It added: ‘After years of suffering, he was recently diagnosed with a rare dementia of the fronto-temporal lobe.’
The notice included a verse from Tennyson’s poem Tithonus: ‘The woods decay, the woods decay and fall. The vapours weep their burthen to the ground. Man comes and tills the field and lies beneath. And after many a summer dies the swan.’
His successor, Sir James Munby, said: ‘On and off the bench, and to the wide admiration of those who practise in family law, Sir Nicholas often spoke with passion, and in plain language, about the importance of family life, the good practice of family law, and the proper administration and resourcing of family justice.
‘He was appropriately outspoken about the plight of children caught up in the midst of parental conflict. He expressed his deep concern again and again about the impact of domestic abuse on children and on family life.
‘Sir Nicholas’ life was one of very great achievement and he has left us a formidable and enduring legacy.’
Sir Nicholas was called to the Bar in 1969, appointed a High Court Judge in 1993, to the Court of Appeal and Privy Council in 2004 and became President of the Family Division in 2010. He was 71.
Sam Townend KC explains the Bar Council’s efforts towards ensuring a bright future for the profession
Giovanni D’Avola explores the issue of over-citation of unreported cases and the ‘added value’ elements of a law report
Louise Crush explores the key points and opportunities for tax efficiency
Westgate Wealth Management Ltd is a Partner Practice of FTSE 100 company St. James’s Place – one of the top UK Wealth Management firms. We offer a holistic service of distinct quality, integrity, and excellence with the aim to build a professional and valuable relationship with our clients, helping to provide them with security now, prosperity in the future and the highest standard of service in all of our dealings.
Is now the time to review your financial position, having reached a career milestone? asks Louise Crush
If you were to host a dinner party with 10 guests, and you asked them to explain what financial planning is and how it differs to financial advice, you’d receive 10 different answers. The variety of answers highlights the ongoing need to clarify and promote the value of financial planning.
Most of us like to think we would risk our career in order to meet our ethical obligations, so why have so many lawyers failed to hold the line? asks Flora Page
If your current practice environment is bringing you down, seek a new one. However daunting the change, it will be worth it, says Anon Barrister
Creating advocacy opportunities for juniors is now the expectation but not always easy to put into effect. Tom Mitcheson KC distils developing best practice from the Patents Court initiative already bearing fruit
Sam Townend KC explains the Bar Council’s efforts towards ensuring a bright future for the profession
The long-running fee-paid judicial pensions saga continues. The current cut-off date for giving notice of election to join FPJPS is 31 March 2024, and that date now gives rise to a serious problem, warns HH John Platt