After leaving BGS, Tim read jurisprudence at Wadham College, Oxford and then qualified as a barrister and joined chambers in his native Liverpool. He practised as a barrister on the Northern Circuit for nearly 30 years. During that time he began sitting as a recorder (a part-time judge) in the early 1990s, and became what was then a Queen’s Counsel (“QC”: now King’s Counsel, “KC”) in 1996. In 2009 he was appointed a High Court Judge, assigned to the Queen’s Bench Division, and was subsequently knighted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. He sat as a judge on a wide range of criminal and civil cases, and from 2012 to 2015 was a Presiding Judge of the Northern Circuit. In 2017 he was appointed to the Court of Appeal, and was subsequently appointed a Privy Councillor. His judicial title is now the Rt Hon. Lord Justice Holroyde. He is at present the Vice-President of the Court of Appeal, Criminal Division. Much of his work (though not all of it) involves hearing appeals and applications in criminal cases, including recently the successful appeals of many former sub-Post Masters and Mistresses who had been convicted of offences of dishonesty on the basis of evidence produced by the Post Office’s Horizon accounting system. He remains a friend of BGS and attends OB events in London when he can, offering advice and support to young OBs who are interested in pursuing a legal career.

What are your best memories of BGS?

I particularly enjoyed my time in the sixth form, studying the subjects of my choice. I also greatly enjoyed the sports, in particular tennis and fives.

Can you remember any teachers who had an impact on you?

My housemasters – Mr Michael Booker and Mr Ron Cockitt; my English and Classics teachers; and above all Mr Tony Verity, the head of the Classics department and a man to whom I owe a great deal. 

Beyond BGS - why law?

When I started my A levels, I had no idea what career I might pursue. Fortunately, the career advice which I received presented me with a simple dichotomy: to become a Classics master or to become a solicitor. I knew that I did not want to be a teacher, and so the choice was effectively made for me. Whilst at university I was expecting to go on to become a solicitor, but a late change of plan led to my starting at the Bar instead.

What have been the highlights of your career?

Taking silk, and my judicial appointments.

What’s next for you?

Retirement!

What motivates you?

I enjoy my work, and I believe I am making a valuable contribution as a judge.

How do you relax?

My wife and I have fairly recently become grandparents. Spending time with our grandchildren is a great delight, and a highly effective break from thinking about work.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Looking back, I think I was unnecessarily anxious about a lot of things; so I think my advice would be to loosen up!