6 minute read
I From the Treasurer
FROM THE TREASURER
Guy Fetherstonhaugh QC Photo © Garlinda Birkbeck
Not since 1688 has a Treasurer of this Inn had the privilege to serve two years running – and especially in such unusual (although not unprecedented) times. I am indebted to the Inn’s Archivist, Celia Pilkington, for revealing that the last Treasurer to serve when multiple terms were a formal option was not Grimbald Pauncefoot in 1715 but rather Sir Robert Sawyer in 1683, the Attorney General, who served for five years.
Sir Robert was Treasurer following the pandemics in the 1660s and during the great rebuilding of the Inn after the Great Fire. The accounts from the time disclose payments to Sir Christopher Wren for various dinners at the Devil Tavern on Fleet Street, when the refitting of the Church was discussed. It does not appear that the Treasurer stinted himself: a typical small dinner resulted in the consumption of “Battalia pie, salad, 2½ dozen of best Pontack, one dozen bottles of best canary, 6 bottles of best Champagne”. It is perhaps not surprising that the Inn’s records go on to describe Christmas at the Inn in 1687 as a period of “licentiousness and disorder, the great offence of Almighty God, the scandal and dishonour of this society, the corrupting and debauching of divers young gentlemen, members of the same and unless timely prevented may endanger the total subversion of the good government thereof”. The only solution was to ban formal entertainments during the Christmas period. Sir Robert also presided over the “Battle of the Organs”, when Middle Temple proposed an instrument in Temple Church made by Bernard Smith, the King’s organ maker, who had built the organ for Westminster Abbey, while Inner Temple supported a rival by Renatus Harris. The two instruments were erected at opposite sides of the church in 1683 by their respective builders and prepared for the judgment of the two Inns, each playing on alternate Sundays. This competition continued until 1685, when Inner Temple received an order of parliament from Middle Temple suggesting that a speedy solution needed to be found and that Inner Temple should be prepared to agree that the organ by Smith was the best “both for the sweetness and fullness of sound”. The parties were unable to settle, and the competition became ugly, with allegations of sabotage, and finally a reference to Lord Chief Justice Jeffreys (himself a Bencher of The Inner Temple) for his determination in favour of the Middle Temple. Today’s Treasurer has had nothing so momentous to occupy his time – and the Middle Temple are now of course our firm friends.
The two instruments were erected at opposite sides of the church in 1683 by their respective builders and prepared for the judgment of the two Inns.
But enough of the historical parallels. My own extended time in post has afforded me the opportunity to think at some length about the Inn’s role in the education and accommodation of barristers, as well as the part the Treasurer has to play.
In ordinary times, the Treasurer is part-ambassador abroad, part-master of ceremonies and part-non-executive chairman, in nominal charge of a large estate and educational establishment. In the last two years, most of these functions have dropped away, while others have acquired an online presence. The role has, however, remained fairly active, not least because of Project Pegasus, which has been driven onwards throughout the pandemic and now nears completion. But over and above the Project Pegasus, there are aspects of the role of Treasurer which have remained gratifying and fulfilling, even in these uncommon times. Let me list them, mainly for the pleasure of my recall, rather than the edification of readers.
First and foremost, there is the delight of being surrounded (necessarily virtually but increasingly in real life) by the absolute stars of what I regard as the best profession in the world. These are all busy practitioners and judges (some retired but remaining industrious) who devote hours of their time to serving on the committees through which the Inn discharges its duties; who lavish care and attention on students in skills training; who administer hardship funds – the Inn’s guardian angels.
It is becoming increasingly clear that our regulators will seek to introduce continuing competence training for advocates. We should not resist this; we should be at the forefront of it. Our own students say in their feedback forms that they would welcome refresher training every few years, and we as an Inn should respond to their requests. It is in our best interests to beat our regulators to this – for after all, if we are seen to be introducing best practice ourselves, there can hardly be any excuse for regulatory intervention. To do this, we will need a substantial increase in the numbers of our advocacy trainers – and we have the best of foundations on which to build. We will be embarking on that process with a practitioner survey this autumn, and it will be fascinating to see how it develops. I look forward to a future where the training of practitioners by their seniors is carried out for all of us, and not just our new practitioners.
And I look forward (imminently now) to the completion of a splendid new education and training complex atop our Treasury Building and Hall, in which all this endeavour will be accommodated. I have watched the new accommodation take shape, and it is evident that it will be not only excellent for its purpose but will also be a rich addition to the Inn’s varied architectural heritage. Soon we will all be able to come together to celebrate the survival of the old and the creation of the new and enjoy the fellowship that has been missing from our lives these past two years. The return to real life should not however be allowed to prevail entirely over the valuable lessons learned from our acquired online expertise over the lockdown. Many of our Qualifying Sessions and committee meetings will remain online in the future, improving accessibility by those who in the past have not been able to attend without difficulty. We will also retain our use of UCLeXtend, UCL’s publicfacing learning platform, to deliver online training. This has been enabled through our Dean of Education’s contacts with UCL. New Schools Resources are now available on OpenLearn, delivered in partnership with the Open University, allowing the Inn to reach even more young people.
None of this would be possible without our staff, who not only run the Inn superbly in normal times, led by our estimable Sub-Treasurer, Greg Dorey, but who have responded quite magnificently to the wretched pandemic, adapting the Inn’s activities to an online existence. Our heads of department deserve special recognition. Each year, I am asked for a performance review of each, and I am never able to think of a single negative word. We are well served – and my job in particular has been a real pleasure as a result.
Lastly, and perhaps at the peak of my list of Treasurer goodies, is the Call speech, in which I have the privilege of mapping out, to an admittedly captive audience, my thoughts about the value of our career; the primacy of the rule of law; the importance of integrity; the sheer joy in competitive advocacy done well. Each Treasurer pens a different speech, and I will look forward to hearing my successor, Master Deborah Taylor, as she rises to the lectern next year. Let me end by paying tribute to Deborah: it is one thing to be Treasurer in a pandemic, because the compensating features are those I have mentioned above. It is, I would guess, less absorbing for the Reader – but Deborah has been outstanding in her support, loyalty and good humour. I leave the Inn in good hands.
