Hugh Griffiths, Baron Griffiths
Encyclopedia
William Hugh Griffiths, Baron Griffiths, known as Hugh Griffiths, PC
, QC
, MC
(born 26 September 1923) is a British
judge and barrister.
The son of Sir Hugh Griffiths was educated at Charterhouse School
and St John's College, Cambridge
. During the Second World War
he served in the Welsh Guards
, receiving a Military Cross
in 1944. Griffiths was called to the Bar
, Inner Temple
in 1949, and became a Queen's Counsel
in 1964. From 1962 to 1964, he was Recorder
of Margate
, and from 1964 to 1970 of Cambridge
. In 1971, Griffiths was knighted and was made Judge of the High Court of Justice
, Queen's Bench Division, a post he held until 1980.
Between 1980 and 1985, he was Lord Justice of Appeal
, and between 1985 and 1993 Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
, created additionally a life peer
with the title Baron Griffiths, of Govilon, in the County of Gwent
on his appointment.
Griffiths has married three times: first Evelyn Krefting in 1949; and after her death in 1998 he married second Heather Renwick Brigstocke
, the former High Mistress of St Paul's
, on 22 January 2000. She was killed in a car accident in 2004. They were one of the few couples to who both held titles in their own right. In July 2009, he married Greta Fenston, widow of Felix Fenston, the 1960s property developer and one of the richest women in the country. He has four children by his first wife: three daughters and one son.
He holds the rare distinction of having been both President of MCC
and Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.
At Cambridge University, Hugh Griffiths won Blues for cricket in 1946, 1947, and 1948, recording career-best figures of 6 for 129 against Lancashire in 1946. He also made eight appearances in the County Championship for Glamorgan County Cricket Club
, taking 4 for 61 against Surrey on his debut in 1946.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(born 26 September 1923) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
judge and barrister.
The son of Sir Hugh Griffiths was educated at Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
and St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
. During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served in the Welsh Guards
Welsh Guards
The Welsh Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division.-Creation :The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of His Majesty King George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards, "..though the order...
, receiving a Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in 1944. Griffiths was called to the Bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
, Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1949, and became a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1964. From 1962 to 1964, he was Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Margate
Margate
-Demography:As of the 2001 UK census, Margate had a population of 40,386.The ethnicity of the town was 97.1% white, 1.0% mixed race, 0.5% black, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% Chinese or other ethnicity....
, and from 1964 to 1970 of Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. In 1971, Griffiths was knighted and was made Judge of the High Court of Justice
High Court judge
A High Court judge is a judge of the High Court of Justice, and represents the third highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales. High Court judges are referred to as puisne judges...
, Queen's Bench Division, a post he held until 1980.
Between 1980 and 1985, he was Lord Justice of Appeal
Lord Justice of Appeal
A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, and represents the second highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales-Appointment:...
, and between 1985 and 1993 Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, commonly known as Law Lords, were appointed under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 to the House of Lords of the United Kingdom in order to exercise its judicial functions, which included acting as the highest court of appeal for most domestic matters...
, created additionally a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
with the title Baron Griffiths, of Govilon, in the County of Gwent
Gwent (county)
Gwent is a preserved county and a former local government county in south-east Wales. It was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, and was named after the ancient Kingdom of Gwent....
on his appointment.
Griffiths has married three times: first Evelyn Krefting in 1949; and after her death in 1998 he married second Heather Renwick Brigstocke
Heather Brigstocke, Baroness Brigstocke
Heather Brigstocke, Baroness Brigstocke, CBE was a British schoolteacher, academic and Conservative Life Peer....
, the former High Mistress of St Paul's
St Paul's Girls' School
St Paul's Girls' School is a senior independent school, located in Brook Green, Hammersmith, in West London, England.-History:In 1904 a new day school for girls was established by the trustees of the Dean Colet Foundation , which had run St Paul's School for boys since the sixteenth century...
, on 22 January 2000. She was killed in a car accident in 2004. They were one of the few couples to who both held titles in their own right. In July 2009, he married Greta Fenston, widow of Felix Fenston, the 1960s property developer and one of the richest women in the country. He has four children by his first wife: three daughters and one son.
He holds the rare distinction of having been both President of MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
and Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.
At Cambridge University, Hugh Griffiths won Blues for cricket in 1946, 1947, and 1948, recording career-best figures of 6 for 129 against Lancashire in 1946. He also made eight appearances in the County Championship for Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
, taking 4 for 61 against Surrey on his debut in 1946.