Dominic Regan pays tribute to the wit & judgment of Sir Alan Ward
“This case involves a number of—and here I must not fall into Dr Spooner’s error—warring bankers.” Only Lord Justice Ward could get away with this mischievous comment. Recently retired from the Court of Appeal, he was what can only be called a character. He produced a string of exotic judgments but also maintained a sense of pragmatism. Many a decision was founded upon commonsense.
His opening paragraph in Sutton v Hutchinson [2005] EWCA Civ 1773, [2005] All ER (D) 127 (Nov) is a gem. “The appellant is a lap dancer. I would not, of course, begin to know exactly what that involves. One can guess at it, but could not faithfully describe it. The judge tantalizingly tells us…that the purpose is to tease but not to satisfy.” Since his wife, Helen Ward, is the pre-eminent divorce lawyer it is just as well that Sir Alan is in the dark.
Star Ward
While many on the bench understandably struggle with the
