HH Christopher Walton (1949 – 2023)
April 12, 2023
Chambers was saddened to learn of the premature death of former Head of Chambers Christopher Walton at the age of only 74.
He was a local man, educated at St Cuthbert’s Grammar School, Newcastle (as was) and then Downing College, Cambridge. Christopher was called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of Middle Temple in 1973 and was a stalwart member of 51 Westgate Road / Broad Chare Chambers, succeeding HH Esmond Faulks as Head.
Christopher Walton was an elegant, understated and learned civil practitioner who was held in the highest esteem by the legal professions and judges in Newcastle, on Circuit and nationally. It is a testament to his erudition that from 1996 he was the editor of successive editions of the seminal practitioners’ text Charlesworth & Percy on Negligence.
He was a Recorder from 1992 to 1997 before he was appointed to the Circuit Bench; subsequently he became the Designated Civil Judge at Newcastle, until his retirement. Beyond his distinguished legal career he maintained diverse interests: tennis, golf, history, music, and Scottish art, as well as an enduring commitment to Newcastle United FC.
He will be greatly missed by his many friends in the law.
John Elvidge KC
