Questions for Tony Hughes

My professional career as a lawyer looks like this :

a Circuit Judge, South Eastern Circuit, since 2006; Designated Family Judge, Milton Keynes and Oxford, since 2007; DFJ of Northampton since 2014 Deputy High Court Judge, since 200.

EDUCATION

King’s Sch., Canterbury; Coll. of Law.

CAREER

Articled with Cole & Cole, Oxford, 1973–77; admitted as solicitor, 1977; Partner with Linnell & Murphy, then Linnells, subseq. Borneo Linnells, Solicitors, Oxford, 1979–2006; NP, 1985–2006; Dep. Metropolitan Stipendiary Magistrate, 1993–2000; a Recorder, 2000–06.

QUESTIoNS:

1. If you had your time again, would you still become a lawyer? If not, why not? What would the alternative career choice have been? – The only other career I had in mind was the

Army which would probably have seen me retired in my 50s , having inevitably failed Staff College .

At least with the law , I can still make a contribution in my dotage.

2. Best day as a lawyer/judge.

Joy Pinkham Barrister from Chartlands Chambers in conversation with His Honour Judge Antony Hughes; (Circuit Judge, South Eastern Circuit, since 2006; Designated Family Judge, Milton Keynes and Oxford, since 2007;DFJ of Northampton since 2014 Deputy High Court Judge, since 2007).

Could you firstly write a few paragraphs about your personal life and family, and a brief synopsis of your professional life.

I was born in Tanzania in 1953 in a place called Moshi , just under Kilimanjaro . My father was a colonial forest officer and later an Oxford don . In Africa I was able to run wild, either by default or design , before being sent back to school in England to be civilised . I have been married for 44 years to Ann . She is the blood of my heart . We have three daughters and six grandchildren . As Wellington would have put of the grandchildren :

‘ I don’t know what effect these … will have upon the enemy, but, by God, they frighten me. ‘

kindly judge took over my cross examination and even suggested a half time submission of no case to answer which I gratefully adopted and to my astonishment my bewildered client was acquitted . Overnight I became the firm’s expert in Courts Martial . It was an agonising day which still comes back to me . Disaster and triumph in a single day.

4. Any funny moments from practice / as a judge? - As a very young solicitor in Oxfordshire I was tasked to go to Witney Magistrates Court.

I was very late as I had to call at the

Oxford Hospital Accident and

Emergency Dept. as I had a pen stuck in my ear for reasons that still confuse me . I explained this carefully to an irate Chairman of the Bench who told me that she did not believe a word and if I was late again she would phone my mother !

5. Best way to relax after a long day in court? - a carefully made Gin and tonic , plenty of ice , thick slice of lime and double tot of gin …allow 90 secs to cool … cohort of troubled teenagers who are at risk of trafficking , self harming and often have acute mental health challenges , whose welfare is being seriously let down in the present climate.

7. Favourite book? -

The Lord of the Rings.

8. Favourite film/TV series? -

David Lean’s ‘ Lawrence of Arabia ‘.

9. Desert Island Discs…

What would be your luxury item? -

My Big Green Egg BBQ.

10. Favourite piece of music (or genre) – The Dream Of Gerontius by Elgar.

11. Favourite place on earth for holiday destination? – Barbados.

12. If you had the opportunity of a career move now? - Churchyard grass cutter.

13. You have won the raffle and are given the opportunity to draft a new piece of legislation. What would it be?

Ramping up penalties for spitting in the street and anti-social behaviour to include a spell in the stocks.

3. Worst day as a lawyer/judge? - I can take 2 and 3 together . On the day I qualified in 1977 I was sent by my firm to represent an aircraftsman at

RAF LYNHAM , who was charged with theft before a Judge Advocate at a Court Martial . To say I hadn’t got a clue was an understament . I even had the wrong tabs . Luckily the

6. You’re head of the Family Judiciary for a week and you have magical powers. What would you do? The merits of FDAC and PAUSE are well established . I would conjure up the funds to have them introduced in every DFJ area . Just as importantly , magically make provision for secure therapeutic establishments for the very large 14 www.northamptonshirelawsociety.co.uk

14. If you had judicial tourettes what might we expect to hear? –

I am afraid it would all be in

Swahili …

15. Which actor would play you in a movie about your life? - MARTIN

CLUNES but you would have to let

George Clooney down gently.

He will be gutted.