40s and 50s Memories
Ibadan. Prior to this the Lagos Bat Virus had
been obtained from the brain of a frugiverous
bat, and Nigerian Horse virus had been found
at Ibadan, and both of these were rabiesrelated viruses.
Then came the discovery of
Lassa Fever virus from rodents in Northern
Nigeria, and also Marburg and Ebola, both
African viruses, all of which are normally fatal. In
hindsight, I blanched at the thought of handling
all those animals as I did without gloves or a
face mask, something never done now.
We spent the best part of six years in Nigeria
at Ibadan but finally the violent and ethnic
Nigerian civil war made it dangerous and
virtually impossible for us to travel and work.
DTC removed all of it's staff eventually and we
returned to the UK with our acquired goods
and chattels, plus a new Peugeot 404 Estate,
the camel of West Africa., and our trusty blue
Bedford van. This vehicle became a completely
derelict rust bucket eventually, and it has taken
me more than three years to restore this now
nearly 50 year-old vehicle which occupies pride
of place in our garage.
May, 2012
B. A. FARRER
Woodard 1948
Brian Farrer left King's in 1948 at the time
when Headmaster Randall Unmack was
Housemaster of his House, Woodard. He
was a Choral Scholar and he remembers
particularly the Chaplain, Fr. Miles Sargent and
the Choirmaster Mr. Baines. He also records
two other masters as favourite teachers,
c.h.wolff and Julian Pytches. His best subjects
were english and history which helped to form
him for the life in Law that he was to follow. It
appears he was once the recipient of a parcel
addressed to him in Chambers as B.A. Ferrer
that earned him the nickname "Mel." Among his
school friends he names Robert Pagett and Ian
Shapland.
Of his working life, he writes:
I first spent a year with the City of Birmingham
School Meals department. This was followed
by the National Service, in which I finished as a Sergeant in the Education Corps, in 1951.
In September 1952, I commenced a three year
course at University College, London reading
Law. I was awarded an LLB (Honours) in 1955.
For eighteen months thereafter I studied for the
Bar exams, while at the same time teaching in
the Hackney area of London.
I was called to the Bar by Grays Inn in 1957 and
then joined Chambers in Birmingham, where I
served a 12 month pupilage. On completion
I was accepted as a member of Chambers
and joined the Midland and Oxford Circuit. I
practiced at the Birmingham Bar as a Junior,
being made a Recorder on the Circuit in 1974
and remaining so until 1983.
I was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1978
and then a Circuit Judge in 1985.
I presided over criminal trials and civil trials,
and then over family cases as well when I was
appointed a Family Judge. I was also appointed
a Deputy High Court Judge so that I could
try High Court civil cases. I retired in 2001,
but continued to act as the Chairman of the
Coventry City Standards Committee.
I gave that up in 2008, since when I have only
practiced doing nothing!
I married my wife Gwendoline Valerie (nee
Waddoup) in 1960. We have recently celebrated
our Golden Wedding Anniversary. We enjoy
the company of our daughter and two sons,
five granddaughters and one grandson. All our
children are lawyers, two at the Bar and the
eldest is a Circuit Judge. His wife too is at the
Bar and indeed sits on a part-time basis as a
Deputy Registrar/ District judge. Our daughter
is a solicitor and psychologist.
I still remember my eight years at King's very
well, and feel that I derived a great deal from
those years. I still play bridge with John West
(OA) who is on the point of retirement from the
Bar. One other OA I recall was Leo Charles,
also a QC, who it transpired was defending a
co- accused in a criminal case I was defending
at Stafford. He, like me, went on to become a
Circuit Judge.
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