Sir Godfrey Russell-Vick QC (24 December 1892 – 27 September 1958)[1] was an English lawyer, judge and Liberal Party politician.

Godfrey Russell-Vick KC in 1936

Background

edit

Born at Strathmore House, West Hartlepool, the youngest son of Richard William Vick JP and Emily née Oughtred, he was educated at the Leys School and Jesus College, Cambridge, and played rugby for Hartlepool Rovers.

He married Marjorie Hester Compston and the couple had two daughters and two sons, the younger of whom, Sir Arnold Russell-Vick, also became a barrister then a judge.[1]

Professional career

edit

In August 1914 Russell-Vick was commissioned into the 11th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry, serving during World War I in France and Flanders. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1917,[1] and practised successfully as a criminal lawyer on the North East circuit.[2] He served both as Chairman of the Bar Council and variously as Recorder of Richmond (1930-1931), Halifax (1931-1939) and Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1939-1956). Sworn as King's Counsel in 1935, he was then appointed a County Court Judge, becoming a Bencher of the Inner Temple,[1] and knighted in 1950.[3]

Russell-Vick's service on public enquiries included:

Political career

edit

He contested the constituency of Bishop Auckland at the 1918 General Election for the Coalition Liberals and finished second.

In 1919 Russell-Vick contested the constituency of Shoreditch in the 1919 London County Council election. He ran for the Liberal-backed Progressive Party and narrowly missed out on election.

He contested the constituency of the Hartlepools at the 1945 General Election for the Liberal Party coming third.

Electoral record

edit
General Election 1918: Bishop Auckland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Benjamin Charles Spoor 10,060
National Liberal Godfrey Russell-Vick 7,417
Liberal Dr Henzell Rutherford 2,411
Majority
Turnout
Labour hold Swing
 
Shoreditch in London
London County Council election, 1919: Shoreditch[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive  YHenry Ward 1,701
Labour  Y Charles Taylor 1,464 35.3
Progressive Godfrey Russell-Vick 1,454
Municipal Reform Major William Weber 1,116
Municipal Reform Rosamund Smith 1,110
Majority
Progressive hold Swing
Labour gain from Progressive Swing
General Election 1945: The Hartlepools[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Thomas Jones 16,502 41.2 n/a
Conservative Thomas George Greenwell 16,227 40.5 −23.6
Liberal Godfrey Russell-Vick 6,903 17.3 n/a
Independent Harry Lane 390 1.0 n/a
Majority 275 0.7 −46.0
Turnout 76.1 +36.6
Labour gain from Conservative Swing n/a

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Who Was Who 1897-2006 (2007)
  2. ^ a b c d Wade Baron (1966) p.58
  3. ^ 1945 Hartlepool election leaflet
  4. ^ Home Office (1958)
  5. ^ London Municipal Notes – Volumes 18-23, London Municipal Society
  6. ^ British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

Bibliography

edit
  • Home Office (1945) "London County Council remand homes: report of Committee of Inquiry" Cmd.6594
  • Home Office (1958) "Allegations of Ill-Treatment of Prisoners in Her Majesty's Prison, Liverpool" Cmnd.503
  • Ministry of Fuel and Power.Committee on Petrol Rationing Control (1948) "Evasions of petrol rationing control" Cmd.7372
  • Wade Baron, S. (1966). The Contact Man: The Story of Sidney Stanley and the Lynskey Tribunal. Secker & Warburg.
  • Who Was Who 1897-2006 (2007) "Vick, His Honour Judge Sir Godfrey Russell", retrieved 25 August 2007 (subscription required)