Sir Michael Kerr, PC, 81, former Lord Justice of Appeal
Michael Rhodes
April, 2002, aged 81, was a Lord Justice of Appeal, 1981-89.
He was born 1 March, 1921, the son of Alfred Kerr, and was educated at
Aldenham School, and at Clare College, Cambridge.
He served as a pilot (Flight-Lieutenant) in the RAF during the Second
World War, 1941-45.
Kerr was Called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn, 1948; Bencher, 1968,
Treasurer, 1989; appointed QC, 1961.
He served as a Member of the Bar Council, 1968-72; a Judge of the High
Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division and of the Commercial and
Admiralty Courts, 1972-78; Chairman, Law Commission of England &
Wales, 1978-81; President, London Court of International Arbitration,
1985-94; a Lord Justice of Appeal, 1981-89.
In 1987, Lord Justice Kerr called for changes in the law to speed up
civil litigation and provide tougher sanctions against "dilatory"
lawyers and others responsible for delays in bringing cases to court.
Lord Justice Kerr said the causes and consequences of failing to
pursue legal claims within a reasonable time were "pernicious."
Sir Michael was twice married. He married firstly in 1952, (divorced
1982), the actress Julia Braddock, who, for many years, played Mrs
Dale's daughter-in-law in BBC radio's *Mrs Dale's Diary.*
He married secondly, at Ipswich, 29 January, 1983, Miss Diana Sneezum,
the daughter of Mr & Mrs Neville Sneezum, of Thorrington Hall,
Suffolk.
The first marriage produced two sons and one daughter, and a son and a
daughter were born to the second union.
Kerr was knighted in 1972, and sworn of the Privy Council in 1981.
He leaves a widow, and five children, Lucy, Alexander, Candy, Jo &
Tim.
The funeral service takes place at St Peter's Church, Winterbourne
Stoke, Wiltshire, on Tuesday 23 April, 2002, at 12.30 p.m.
...Michael Rhodes.