Judge James Irvine: Judge who fought in Second World War after graduating from Oxford

3:59pm Thursday 17th January 2008

A CIRCUIT judge who worked at Oxford County Court for 15 years has died, aged 82.

Judge James Irvine handled family and civil cases at the court in St Aldate's from 1981 until his retirement in 1996.

The former Merton College scholar, who lived in Caulcott, near Bicester, died at the end of December in a north Oxfordshire care home.

Having fought as a captain with the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards during the Second World War, he stepped into the legal profession as a barrister in London, later moving to Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire.

In 1972 he was sworn in by Lord Hailsham in the House of Lords to begin his years as a judge.

Immediately before moving to Oxford, he had worked for ten years as a judge in Leicestershire.

Legal professionals and local dignitaries held a commemoration in Oxford Crown Court last Friday to remember their colleague.

Among the 60 people attending the event was Hugo Brunner, the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, and Judge Julian Hall, the recorder of Oxford.

Judge Hall said: "He was a gentle, amazing, welcoming man. When people talked about him in court they said he was a man totally without malice.

"He was extremely good company.

"He was such a favourite with everybody here and we wanted to say farewell."

Judge Harold Wilson, who was based at Oxford Crown Court from 1993 to 2000, met Judge Irvine in 1960 through 2, Harcourt Buildings - the chambers they both belonged to.

Judge Wilson, 76, who lives in North Oxford, said: "He was an immaculate tribunal. He was rarely appealed successfully.

"He was invariably courteous to everybody and in family work he went out of his way to be kind if he could - particularly with adoptions. He used to make a great day of it for the child and the family.

"He was my oldest friend from chambers."

Judge Irvine leaves his wife of 53 years, Anne, and two children - David, 44, and Susie, 45.