My Learned Friend

The day came when we had to return home. Chrissie and I promised to see each other the day following our return. I was invited to tea at her home. Her parents would want to meet the young man who was squiring their daughter. This was a trial that many young men would go through in that time.

CHAPTER TWO

After all these years it is strange to look back and realise how innocent young men and women were in those days, certainly in the United Kingdom. Elsewhere different attitudes may prevail. The French certainly seemed to have lost their innocence, as did the young in the States. Here in these islands our leaders believed in censorship and restrictions to keep the masses in line and the young innocent. Our morality laws were full of idiosyncrasies. The young had to stay in school until they were fifteen, yet a year later at sixteen, with their parents permission, they could marry and have sex together. At that age most young people were still children! They could marry but could not go into a pub and order a drink until they were eighteen! Young men were called up for National Service with the armed forces at eighteen, and could die for their country; yet could not vote until they were twenty-one. Films and books were censored or banned. 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' for one and 'Fanny Hill' were banned, yet you could go to France and legally buy an unexpurgated English copy of those books and bring them back to the U.K. without any problem. Young men were taught to treat women with respect and show courtesy. Part of that creed was that your young lady's father needed to know with what sort of young man with whom his daughter was associating.

My introduction to Chrissie's parents was a more an interview than I would have imagined. Mr. Ames knew of my parents and didn't view them kindly. He was a bank manager and believed that anyone who espoused socialist principles, as my father did, was probably a secret communist; and therefore schemed to bring the establishment down. My dad was not a revolutionary, but a simple direct socialist. He believed that his work was just as important to the business as that of the Managing Director. Dad also believed in negotiation but was quick to advocate strike action if the management failed to concede. In later years I came to the conclusion that much of the Union's tactics were simple blackmail. Concede or we strike.

Mr. Ames, because of his position saw himself as one of the establishment, part of that edifice that enriched our culture and enshrined respect across all classes of the population, provided that they knew and kept their place. He questioned me keenly on my politics, which at that time were unformed. With my observation that it was only by education and experience of the world could anyone decide on such principles, he warmed to me and practically beamed when he learned from Chrissie my intention of studying Law at university in order to become a barrister. From that moment on, I had his approval to see Chrissie. I did explain that it would not be often, as I had to apply myself to my studies.

He nodded gravely. "You are perfectly correct, young man. Study and get your degree. There is plenty of time later for socializing."

Years later I realized that I did then what barristers do all the time. I persuaded Mr. Ames to see all the positives in the same way that I persuaded juries to look at the evidence that favoured my client. I wasn't deceiving him as my course work was quite a load and I had little time for seeing Chrissie. She understood completely and never put pressure on me to take her out when she knew I should be studying. What I didn't know at that time was that she and her mother were just as industrious in getting together Chrissie's bottom drawer.

With her father's approval of me, it appears that Chrissie, with her mother's tacit agreement had determined that she would be my bride. The bottom drawer was of course their getting together all the linen and other items that Chrissie would need to set up house. The term 'bottom drawer' was a euphemism as no single drawer would be commodious enough to hold all the items that they considered important. It is understood that the intended husband knew nothing of this. The intended husband now set about the most intense period of study that he had ever experienced.

I had applied for a grant when I was accepted at Birmingham, which was reviewed every year. If my results were not good enough, I would lose the grant. I needed a good degree covering Administrative and Public Law, Crime, Tort, Contract, Land Law, European Law and Trusts. In addition, I had to study the English Legal system and Jurisprudence. The three years at University seemed endless. I had interviewed with a Chambers in Birmingham who offered me what was termed as an unpaid mini pupillage, in essence, I was getting to know how Chambers were administered, reading Briefs and looking up precedents that would help the barrister present his case. In addition, I had joined a university debating society in order to gather experience of marshalling my argument and becoming accustomed to public speaking.

Sadly, all this left me with little time for Chrissie yet she never complained. My parents were supporting me with board and lodging and dad would on occasions drop a couple of quid to me. Despite this, my pockets were usually empty and on those occasions I could see Chrissie it was rare that I could take her out. We spent many an evening sitting together under the baleful eye of her father and mother watching television.

It was almost a semi-climax when I got my degree, a semi climax as I now had another year taking the Bar Vocational Course. I had to apply for membership of one of the Inns of Court and joined the Inner Temple. Membership entails attending twelve seminars of tutorial followed by formal dinners in the twelve months of the BVQ. This was a problem as I did not have a Dinner Jacket and had no funds from my allowance to buy or rent. Mr. Ames came to the rescue, he had just bought a new suit so would give me his old one. At six foot two inches, he was taller and more generous around the waist than I was, so Chrissie set about altering the trousers to fit. She did a good job although the seat designed for her father's rather full backside hung baggy on my much slimmer frame, but she demurred at altering the jacket.

"I'm sorry, Clem. I can do simple sewing jobs but the jacket needs tailoring. Why don't you fill the inside pockets with folded paper, it would at least make you look less like a pea rattling around inside a pod." That is what I did. It worked...sort of.

The BVQ and the seminars taught me much about barristers operated and the law. The dinners were more about how barristers related to other barristers and I learned a lot, getting to know the etiquette of formal dining; which as the son of a tool maker was foreign to me; practising the lessons I had learned in the debating society and making contacts for my future life. I made one mistake when being introduced to a Q.C., a Mr. James Wolstenhome. I offered my hand to shake.

He took it and then told me. "On this occasion I will take your hand. After you are called to the Bar never again. Barristers do not shake hands. We are supposed to know each other." I never made that mistake again. However, he remembered me when I completed the BVQ. I graduated with a good mark and I applied to be called to the Bar, I was able to recruit him as a Master of the Bar to propose me. I was called for Trinity night in July and duly presented myself at the Temple Church, with my dark suit, white wing-tip collar and bands. Bands are the two tapes that hang from the collar instead of a tie; I had to buy those before the ceremony although the gown was provided by the Inner Temple. Chrissie and my father had come down to London as my guests and after the ceremony I could see them bursting with pride. The Temple also loaned me a Horsehair wig for the almost obligatory photograph, a photo that Chrissie treasured and which still sits in pride of place in our home.

Even after being called to the Bar, the fledgling barrister has much to learn and embarks on another twelve months working in Chambers. This period is known as Pupillage. I was lucky to intern for my pupillage with the set I had worked at during my stint in University. There usually are more barristers called to the Bar than vacancies for pupillage offered by Chambers, so it was fortuitous that I was a known quantity, moreover I was being paid, the first income of my life. I knew the barristers who had rooms there and more importantly, I got on well with the clerk. Barristers are self-employed and the usual pattern is that they combine in a set, sharing the costs of the premises, known as Chambers.

The senior clerk is the driving force in a set. He is the one who cultivates the solicitors, gets referrals, matches Briefs with the talents of the barristers in the set and collects the fees. He is also self-employed taking a commission from the fees he collects. Good clerks tend to become very wealthy. I would not be in Court arguing a case for at least six months, and for the second six months I would only appear as a junior in Court, shuffling the files (called the bundle) to present my lead barrister with the notes that he needed. A Senior barrister would be selected as the pupil's mentor, which in practice meant that the pupil would be that barrister's slave; working all hours researching precedents and odd points of Law that could be used in court. The pupil would also double as tea boy.

My day would usually start at seven in the morning and end very often after midnight. I was eventually deemed competent to appear at Magistrates Court. All charges in the UK are first made in the magistrate's court. The accused had to be there but apart from confirming his/her identity would say little. When we knew that the case would be sent to the Crown Court, his solicitor would occasionally ask for a barrister to appear to plead for bail. Sometimes the solicitor was disappointed when I turned up to take on this task. I would like to say that I succeeded every time. Unfortunately on many occasions I wasn't up to the task. I made mistakes and left the fray bloody but not unbowed. However I learned; overcame the nerves and got some things right, finding favour with the solicitor and my lead barrister. More importantly I found favour with the clerk of the chambers.

Mr. Ames took me to one side one day when I had called to see Chrissie. "Clem. I have been speaking to one of my accounts holders, who is a barrister and from what he has told me it appears that your outlay is quite onerous at this time of your career with income lacking quite a long way behind expenditure. Is that so?"

"It is quite a burden, Mr. Ames."

"That's what I thought, Clem. Now I would like to make a suggestion. Open an account with my bank and I will allow you an overdraft for such expenses that your income cannot cover."

"That's very kind of you, Mr. Ames."

He gave a little smile. "Clem, you have a good future before you. Banks like customers who put in more than they take out. We use their money to make millions whilst paying them a pittance in interest. So perhaps kindness is the wrong word. However I suspect that you will at some stage become my son-in-law, so it's as much about help for Christine as you."

I accepted his offer and one of my first actions was to buy my own horsehair wig. For my infrequent appearances in court hitherto I had been able to borrow one, which had been left in Chambers by a retiring barrister. It was old and I usually needed to wash my hair after using it, its condition was such that it had become the home of a veritable stable of fleas. At that time you could get a good wig for something in the region of three hundred pounds. Today depending on quality you would pay upwards of a thousand pounds.

Chambers has an active social side and lunches, dinners and garden parties were prominent. Our partners were invited to many of these functions and I was really happy when Chrissie accompanied me on these occasions. She dressed to impress and I found myself swelling with pride having this lovely woman on my arm. For some time I had been contemplating that our relationship should be set in stone, and I was thinking the stone should be a diamond. I couldn't say to anyone, least myself that I loved Chrissie, yet had not met any other girl who I thought I could spend time with without becoming bored.

I talked it over with my mum and dad. Mum of course was all in favour, but dad took a more thoughtful way. "Lad, you are just starting on your career. Its cost you a lot to get to this stage and from what you have said it may be some time before you are earning a decent income. Getting married is expensive and if Christine were to fall pregnant you would be without her income for years."

Mum was having none of this. "John!" She addressed my dad. "There you go again. Procrastinate, delay, let's think about it, and drag your feet. This is no time for your caution. Chrissie has been there for Clement for five years. She is obviously very fond of him and if I know my son he is very fond of her. We had little when we got married and we got by, didn't we? Give them your blessing. I would like to see a grandchild before I get too old to enjoy it. I doubt that Ramsay will be introducing us to a grandchild in the near future, well none that he would acknowledge." With that outburst she left the room. I was a little shocked at her reference to Ramsay. I had known of his feckless and dissolute ways but didn't understand that mum and dad were aware.

Dad stayed quiet for a while, thinking and then shrugged his shoulders. "If you feel that way about Chrissie then perhaps you should ask her. Your mother won't let it go now, and she will make my life and yours a misery until you do."

My talking it over with my parents was more of a diplomatic move than anything else. I had already decided. So had mum as she came back into the room with a little ring box, which she proffered to me. "My Aunt Tilly left this to me. It was her engagement ring given her by her fiancé Robert."

"I didn't know that Great-Aunt Tilly was married."

"She didn't make it to the Altar. Robert was killed on the Somme. First of July nineteen sixteen. She never looked at any other man after that."

I looked at the ring. A solitaire diamond shouldered by two small sapphires. Great-Aunt Tilly had always lived in the lap of luxury. She owned a large house and right up to her death in nineteen forty-eight employed a cook/housekeeper and a companion. She had demanded the best so I reasoned that the ring was also top quality. "You are suggesting that I use this as Chrissie's engagement ring? That's if she accepts me." I asked mum.

"Yes. There's no doubt that she will accept you. She's waited long enough."

Knowing Mr. Ames views on doing things the right way, I first saw him to get his permission. It sounds very old-fashioned now, but at that time it was still proper to get your future father-in-law's permission before you asked your intended and Mr. Ames was a stickler for the rules. He agreed then surprised me. "I have been expecting this, Clement. You are the sort of young man that any father would want for his daughter. You've applied yourself to your studies and have made your entry into a good profession. I am sure you will do well. Now go and ask my daughter and don't be surprised if she says yes before you have finished the question."

Chrissie did say yes before I finished the question, in fact she said yes the moment I produced the ring-box before I asked the question. I had to prise her arm from around my neck to put the ring on her finger. She held out her hand palm down and admired the ring. "It's lovely Clem. I hope it didn't cost too much." I explained how the ring came to me. She nodded. "When will we be married? Soon, please Clem. I have been very patient and frustrated as I have been looking forward to it ever since I saw you in your tight bathing costume."

"Chrissie!"

"Oh Clem. Isn't it about time you understand that girls want very much the same as men. They look forward to being in bed with their lover." Soon was really out of the question. We would have to save up enough money for a deposit on a suitable house and I would need to show regular earnings to get a mortgage. Well, as soon as possible given that Chrissie, her mother and my mother were involved with the planning and had different ideas. Mr. Ames understood the financial situation and he tried on many occasions to calm the feverish expectations of Chrissie, her mother and my mother as well.

Of course the prospective in-laws had to meet, something about which I was a little concerned given the political gulf that separated Mr. Ames from my dad. I shouldn't have worried as they first fenced around and then found some neutral territory to inhabit. A week later it was my parents turn to entertain. Our small lounge was packed as mum had invited my cousins as well. One cousin I had always got on well with was Jean who had been recently married, changing her name from Marston to Herring. It was very difficult as Jean was good-hearted but possessed a sour-faced disposition and no one would have dared make a joke about her name. Chrissie and my mum hurried around making sure that all the guests had a drink in their hand and their plates had food. I was coerced into helping as well and whilst doing this I noticed that my dad and Mr. Ames were missing. I was very surprised when I found them. I should have realized that dad, as a very keen gardener had found a topic upon which he could find common ground with Mr. Ames, who was also a keen gardener.

My pupillage came to an end and it was time to seek a permanent position with a Chamber. The set I had been working with could not take me. I contacted most of the other sets in Birmingham without success until I approached one of the most prestigious sets; a set I initially disregarded as being beyond my reach. I spoke to the clerk and was surprised by his words. "Ah. Mr. Marston. We have heard of you from Mr. Wolstenhome. I think our Head of Chambers would like to see you, when do you think you can come in?"

"Perhaps Friday if that's convenient."

"Come in at ten-thirty. Mr. Askwith is free at that time."

I could not call this an interview; it was more of a convivial chat over coffee and biscuits. Mr. Melvin Askwith Q.C. was easy to talk with and did not treat me as a supplicant. Indeed at times our conversation appeared more that he was persuading me to join their set. It all became clear when he mentioned his friend James Wolstenhome. "James seemed impressed with you and suggested we look out for you as possible new blood. Some of our set have watched you in action and in general you have acquitted yourself well. You marshalled your facts well and presented them logically. Neither did you make the common mistakes of a junior. One of our barristers was quite complimentary. It appears that you have learned the most basic rule, never ask a question without knowing the answer in advance."

"Actually I did on my first outing. The answer put a complete stop to my cross-examination. I stood there like a complete fool. The Judge was watching with a somewhat bemused expression, he knew what I had done. The prosecuting counsel could not believe his luck."

Mr. Askwith laughed heartily. "We have all done it. All I know is that you have learned and that is important. Now I can't offer you a position here and now, the set needs to vote on that. However I think you would fit in well so I will speak for you at the meeting. I shall be able to let you know the result next Wednesday. That is, of course, if you wish to join us."