His Honour Roger Thorn KC died on Monday 15 January 2024, at the age of 75. He had borne his cancer – which, somewhat cruelly, was diagnosed on his 75th birthday – with astonishing fortitude and stoicism.
Roger, together with his twin brother Jeremy, was born in Lincoln on Tuesday 23 March 1948. He was educated at Mill Hill School in London before studying Law at Newcastle University. Called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 1970, he was a Harmsworth Scholar as well as being awarded a Major Exhibition.
Whilst an undergraduate, he had forged links with the Chambers of David Fenwick, based at 46 Grainger Street in Newcastle Upon Tyne. So it was that he became the pupil of Oliver Wrightson (later His Honour Judge Wrightson). Roger was especially proud of the fine ‘lineage’ of which he became part: Oliver’s pupil master was John Sparrow OBE, an acclaimed barrister and academic, later to become Warden of All Souls College, Oxford. He and Oliver became firm friends, sharing many interests including walking and fine wine.
After securing a tenancy at 46 Grainger Street, Roger rapidly built up an extensive common law practice, being instructed in criminal and personal injury work in equal measure. As time passed, whilst continuing to be in much demand to defend and prosecute cases in the Crown Court, he developed a reputation as an outstanding personal injury practitioner. It is no exaggeration to say that, as a junior during the 1980s, he had the busiest personal injury practice on the North Eastern Circuit. This was due not only to his experience and expertise but also to his extraordinarily quick turnaround of paperwork. The latter was only achieved by working long into the night whilst puffing on his pipe.
During this time Roger had two pupils, Brian Forster KC (later to become His Honour Judge Forster KC) and Jeremy Freedman (later to become His Honour Judge Freedman). Both recall, with much fondness, the time spent with Roger learning the art of advocacy and drafting pleadings, as well as how best to settle cases. Roger was very proud of the fact that both his pupils followed in his footsteps onto the Circuit Bench.
It came as no surprise when he took silk in 1990, being one of only a handful of personal injury practitioners on the North Eastern Circuit to do so. Whilst retaining his tenancy in Newcastle, he joined 11KBW in the Temple.
In silk, with his powerful court presence, he flourished as a criminal defence advocate. A notable success, of which he was justly proud, was the acquittal of a man by the name of George Heron who, in 1992, had allegedly murdered one Nikki Allan, a seven-year-old girl, in Sunderland. Roger succeeded in persuading the judge to exclude the police interviews during which Heron had confessed to the murder after three days of questioning. In 2023, on the strength of DNA evidence, David Boyd was convicted of the murder.
In 1995 Roger embarked on his judicial career, first as an Assistant Recorder before becoming, in 1999, a Recorder and a Deputy High Court Judge. Five years later, he became a Circuit Judge, sitting first in Hull and latterly in his adopted city of Newcastle. In his time at Hull, he was able to deploy his vast experience of civil work by acting as Designated Civil Judge.
Roger brought to the Bench his own individual, even arguably, unique style which found favour amongst some, but perhaps not all, advocates. He was robust, brisk and decisive but with these qualities came, from time to time, a degree of impatience when presented with submissions which he judged to have little or no substance. His innate humanity came to the fore when sentencing, but he could be tough when required.
Following his retirement from the Bench in 2014, he continued to be very active in the affairs of Middle Temple, having been made a Bencher in 1999. Ever generous with his time, he helped, supported and mentored many students seeking a career at the Bar, as well as providing advocacy training.
Outside of the law, Roger had a fulfilled and rich life. Music was a great passion: one of the highlights of his year was his annual visit to the Three Choirs Festival spanning the counties of Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester. He read voraciously and was always keen to discuss all manner of books, with a particular interest in English classics.
Living in Northumberland, first in Rothbury and latterly in Corbridge, allowed him ready access to the countryside, where he much enjoyed hill walking and, in more recent times, somewhat less strenuous strolls. He was often to be found at the Bridge table where he made the most of his retentive memory. Most of all, he enjoyed the company of his many and varied friends and his family including Jeremy and his children, to whom he was particularly close.
Written by His Honour Judge Jeremy Freedman, for the North Eastern Circuit. Reproduced with kind permission from Jeremy Thorn.
