Category: Number 45, Autumn 2025

This edition’s Notices include announcements of new Benchers, recent deaths within the Inn’s community, and a notice from Pension.

The Inn is delighted to announce the recipients of this year’s scholarships, including awards for the Bar Course, GDL, Senior and Ann Goddard Scholarships, as well as Internship Scholarships.

Gray’s Inn has received a new portrait of Lord Slynn of Hadley GBE (not shown here), donated by his family, honouring his distinguished career in European Law and as a judge. This issue also reflects on the passing of Master Terence Etherton (pictured), and highlights recent events at the Inn. From lectures and reunions to long-service celebrations, the Inn continues to blend tradition with community spirit.

Master Christopher Butcher reviews Michael Ward’s Unceasing War of Poverty, a new biography of Sidney and Beatrice Webb. The book reassesses their legacy beyond the welfare state, acknowledging their misjudgments while highlighting their tireless efforts to improve the lives of ordinary people.

Take a moment to reflect on the activities of the Association of Gray’s Inn Students throughout the year, ranging from the Summer Party to the publication of the Student Law Journal, and view a photo gallery featuring some of the Inn’s Residential Scholars…

Master Richard Hawkins reflects on his early days at the Bar, from his pupillage with John Mathew in 1963, through his first criminal trial and fortunate acquittal, to working with Dick Lowry and Nina Lowry, the first woman appointed as a judge at the Old Bailey.

Master Gwynfor Evans. If you have ever dined at Gray’s then you will recognise the warm and welcoming face of Philip Craig, Hall Butler. We caught up in the Bridge Bar…

In this article, Master Timothy Shuttleworth examines the first recorded performance of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors at Gray’s Inn in 1594, famously attended by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men. Focusing on the debate over the precise date of the staging, Shuttleworth weighs the evidence from contemporary records, Gesta Grayorum, and later scholarly analysis. The piece situates this landmark performance within the history of Gray’s Inn and its connections to Elizabethan theatre.

Daniel Dovar explores four historic and cultural institutions near Gray’s Inn, from the architectural and historical richness of St Dunstan’s in the West and St Andrew Holborn, to the vibrant cultural offerings of Pushkin House and the Swedenborg Society.

On Thursday 10 July 2025, Revd Stephen Baxter convened another Pictures, Words and Music event in the Chapel, featuring the Chapel Choir under the direction of Master Christopher Bowers-Broadbent, with organist Joshua Simoes and the Venerable Peter Delaney MBE.

Master Timothy Shuttleworth reports on the 75th Anniversary celebration of the Indian Constitution at Gray’s Inn, honouring Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, a Gray’s Inn member and key architect of India’s democracy. The event, held on 5 June in Hall in collaboration with the Indian High Commission

Master Clive Osborne reports on Professor Patrick Diamond’s History Society lecture, “From Boris Johnson to Donald Trump: Do western democracies get the leaders they deserve?”, exploring the qualities of effective political leadership and the structural and societal reasons why many democracies produce ineffectual leaders.