It is with much sadness that we learned that Peter Weitzman QC died peacefully on 31 August aged 96 years.
Peter joined Chambers very shortly after it was founded by his father and was a member for over 40 years. He had a distinguished career as a barrister and silk, particularly in personal injury and the developing area of employment rights. He appeared in leading cases such as Davies v DPP, Fraser v Furman, Pickett v British Rail and Jones v Jones. He was committed to the Bar and devoted to his family and it was little surprise that two sons both became Queens Counsel themselves.
Peter was a deputy High Court Judge, sat on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel, was Leader of the Middle and Oxford Circuit and served for many years as Head of Chambers until 1997. He had a real talent for the written and spoken word and as a student won the Newdigate Prize in 1949 for his poem “The Black Death”.
HH Jeffrey Burke QC remembers him as “a model advocate, gentleman and friend in every way. He never uttered an unkind or unhelpful word to anyone; polite, kind and almost always cheerful. Yet he was a devastatingly good advocate; he had unlimited powers of concentration and analysis which he used unerringly.” HH David Griffith-Jones QC added that Peter was “a wonderful man and a true gentleman who will be remembered with fondness by everyone who met him. A Chambers’ legend who will be sadly missed”. Colin Edelman QC recalled that his reputation across the Midland and Oxford Circuit was unparalleled such that when Devereux was mentioned “the tributes, accolades and heartfelt fondness for him were instantly forthcoming”. Robert Glancy QC often worked with him and commented that he was “a dignified and effective advocate with a lovely, dry sense of humour who was a pleasure to work with.”
Several current and former members of Chambers sent similar messages remembering him very fondly and a few commented on his devastating talent for understatement – dryly describing one truly terrible opponent as “not his own severest critic”. We send our condolences and deepest sympathy to Ann and all of Peter’s family.
Head of Chambers
