It is with sadness that Chambers announces the death on Friday 11th May 2018 of former member and later distinguished Circuit Judge, Christopher Oddie, at the age of 89 following a long illness.

Christopher was born in Derby in 1929. He attended Giggleswick School and Oriel College, Oxford, before being called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 1954. He began to develop a busy practice on the Oxford Circuit and came to the notice of 1 Crown Office Row’s Oxford Circuiteers.

Christopher was recruited to Chambers in 1960 specifically to handle work on the Oxford Circuit as John Wood and Harry Woolf had expressed a desire to concentrate on London work. He was an ideal fit and became an exceptionally popular member of Chambers, with a substantial practice which he combined with sittings as a Recorder.

Christopher was politically active and fought the Ludlow parliamentary seat for the Liberal Party in 1970. He was unsuccessful but took pride in retaining his deposit.

Having decided not to apply for Silk, Christopher was appointed as a Circuit Judge in 1974 at the relatively young age of 45. He sat with distinction in Kingston Crown Court and West London County Court before transferring in 1989 to the special jurisdiction of the Mayor’s and City of London Court, remaining there until his retirement in 1994. He also sat as a Deputy High Court Judge, served as Chairman of the County Court Rule Committee, as a member of the Judicial Studies Board and as member of the Council of St Mary’s Hospital Medical School. He edited Butterworth’s County Court Precedents and Pleadings.

Prior to his illness, Christopher was a regular attender at Chambers’ gatherings. He retained a keen interest in the progress of young barristers. His passions included opera and walking.

Christopher married Margaret, always known as Timmy, in 1957 and they were married for 55 years until her death in 2012. They had 4 children, to whom he was devoted and of whom he was very proud. The thoughts of all in Chambers are with them and Christopher’s extended family at this sad time.

There will be a private cremation, but a memorial meeting will take place at Pembroke Lodge, Richmond Park at 2pm on Tuesday 3rd July 2018.