England’s oldest practising barrister turns 90

Noel Philo, so named as he was born on Christmas, turned 90 last month.

A member of Nottingham-based KCH Garden Square, he told the BBC: “I do feel that through my work, I can do some good and help people. As long as I am wanted and as long as I’m fit, I’ll keep going. How long that will be, I don’t know.”

He was born in 1934 and read law at Oxford before being admitted as a solicitor in 1966. In recent years he helped eight schools obtain justice against a travel company director who had failed to ensure they were properly insured for trips.

At a surprise reception, Judge Simon Hirst, recorder of Lincoln, paid tribute to him.

Judge Hirst said: “I have been in the legal profession some 30 years and when I began my career at chambers in Hull I was a regular visitor to Grimsby Crown Court.

“In the robing room, Noel always had words of wisdom for a ‘baby’ barrister and displayed acts of kindness.”

He added: “We are always delighted to have Noel helping us at this court, and I hope it continues for many years to come.”

Mr Philo’s wife Liz is a solicitor and also continues to sit as a deputy district judge.

Of his advanced years, Mr Philo said: “Obviously, if I got to the stage where I was no longer any use, I wouldn’t get any briefs and I would have to retire. My senior clerk says that he thinks I’ll still be going when the rest of them have retired, but I’m not sure about that.”