Eustace Roskill, Baron Roskill
Encyclopedia
Eustace Wentworth Roskill, Baron Roskill PC
, JP
(6 February 1911 – 4 October 1996) was a British
lawyer and public servant.
. Roskill's older brother Stephen
was a captain in the Royal Navy
. He was educated as an exhibitioner at Winchester College
and went then to Exeter College, Oxford
, where he graduated first class with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1932, winning an honorary scholarship in modern history. Roskill studied afterwards as a Harmsworth Law Scholar at the Middle Temple
and was called to the bar in 1933. Three years later he obtained a Master of Arts and thereafter worked at the Commercial Bar.
in 1950, assigned to Hampshire
and became deputy chairman of the county's Quarter Sessions
in the year thereafter. Roskill was appointed a Queen's Counsel
in 1953 and chaired the Quarter Session from 1960. A year later he became Commissioner of Assize, serving in Birmingham
and was elected a bencher
by the Middle Temple.
In 1962 Roskill received an appointment as judge on the High Court of Justice (Queen's Bench Division) and was therefore knighted. He became the new president of the Senate of the Inns of Court and the Bar, when it was formed in 1967. Roskill filled a vacancy as Lord Justice of Appeal
in 1971 and on this occasion was sworn of the Privy Council
. Following the death of Reginald Manningham-Buller, 1st Viscount Dilhorne
in 1980, he replaced him as Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
, receiving the usual life peer
age with the title Baron Roskill, of Newtown
, in the County of Hampshire. Six years later he retired.
From 1957 Roskill chaired the trust of the Horris Hill School
. When the Parole Board for England and Wales
was established in 1968, he was chosen its first vice-chairman and in the same year chaired the Third London Airport Commission. During his time as Lord of Appeal he sat in the Appellate Committee as well as in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
. After his retirement in 1986, Roskill chaired the Fraud Trials Committee and a year later became also chairman of the appeals committee of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
, a position he held until 1993. In his last years he served as an arbitrator.
in 1996.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(6 February 1911 – 4 October 1996) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
lawyer and public servant.
Background and education
Roskill was the youngest of four sons of John Roskill. His mother Sybil was the daughter of the traveller and politician Ashton Wentworth DilkeAshton Wentworth Dilke
Ashton Wentworth Dilke was a British traveller and radical Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1883.He was the younger son of Sir Charles Dilke, 1st Baronet, and was educated privately before being admitted to Trinity Hall, Cambridge in 1868...
. Roskill's older brother Stephen
Stephen Roskill
Captain Stephen Wentworth Roskill, CBE, DSC, FBA, DLitt was a career officer in the Royal Navy, serving during the Second World War and, after his enforced medical retirement, served as the official historian of the Royal Navy from 1949 to 1960...
was a captain in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He was educated as an exhibitioner at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and went then to Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, where he graduated first class with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1932, winning an honorary scholarship in modern history. Roskill studied afterwards as a Harmsworth Law Scholar at the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
and was called to the bar in 1933. Three years later he obtained a Master of Arts and thereafter worked at the Commercial Bar.
Career
With the begin of the Second World War in 1939, Roskill, having previously suffered from tubercolosis, was not conscripted into active service, but became employed at the Ministry of Shipping until 1941 and subsequently at its successor the Ministry of War Transport until the end of the war in 1945. He was nominated a Justice of the PeaceJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in 1950, assigned to Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
and became deputy chairman of the county's Quarter Sessions
Quarter Sessions
The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the United Kingdom and other countries in the former British Empire...
in the year thereafter. Roskill was appointed a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1953 and chaired the Quarter Session from 1960. A year later he became Commissioner of Assize, serving in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and was elected a bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
by the Middle Temple.
In 1962 Roskill received an appointment as judge on the High Court of Justice (Queen's Bench Division) and was therefore knighted. He became the new president of the Senate of the Inns of Court and the Bar, when it was formed in 1967. Roskill filled a vacancy as Lord Justice of Appeal
Lord Justice of Appeal
A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, and represents the second highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales-Appointment:...
in 1971 and on this occasion was sworn of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. Following the death of Reginald Manningham-Buller, 1st Viscount Dilhorne
Reginald Manningham-Buller, 1st Viscount Dilhorne
Reginald Edward Manningham-Buller, 1st Viscount Dilhorne PC, QC , known as Sir Reginald Manningham-Buller, Bt, from 1954 to 1962 and as The Lord Dilhorne from 1962 to 1964, was an English lawyer and Conservative politician...
in 1980, he replaced him as Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, commonly known as Law Lords, were appointed under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 to the House of Lords of the United Kingdom in order to exercise its judicial functions, which included acting as the highest court of appeal for most domestic matters...
, receiving the usual life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
age with the title Baron Roskill, of Newtown
Newtown, Hampshire
Newtown is a village and civil parish in the English county of Hampshire, located just south of Newbury.-History:The mediaeval borough of Newtown was formed from part of the parish of Burghclere, and flourished in the 13th and 14th centuries. Sandleford Priory in Berkshire was founded between 1193...
, in the County of Hampshire. Six years later he retired.
From 1957 Roskill chaired the trust of the Horris Hill School
Horris Hill School
Horris Hill, is a boarding and day preparatory school for boys, situated in the far north of Hampshire in England, south of Newbury in West Berkshire and near the village of Newtown. The school was founded on its present site in 1888 by A. H. Evans, a master at Winchester College...
. When the Parole Board for England and Wales
Parole Board for England and Wales
The Parole Board for England and Wales was established in 1968 under the Criminal Justice Act of 1967. It became an independent executive non-departmental public body on 1 July 1996 under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. The Parole Board's role is to make risk assessments about...
was established in 1968, he was chosen its first vice-chairman and in the same year chaired the Third London Airport Commission. During his time as Lord of Appeal he sat in the Appellate Committee as well as in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
. After his retirement in 1986, Roskill chaired the Fraud Trials Committee and a year later became also chairman of the appeals committee of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
Panel on Takeovers and Mergers
The Panel on Takeovers and Mergers is a regulatory body located in London, England. It was set up in 1968 and is charged with the administration of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers...
, a position he held until 1993. In his last years he served as an arbitrator.
Family
In 1947, he married Elisabeth, third daughter of Thomas Frame Jackson; the couple had a son and two daughters. Roskill died at Reading, BerkshireReading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
in 1996.