John Hopkins (lawyer)
John Alan Hopkins | |
|---|---|
| Born | 16 December 1936 Hemsworth, England |
| Died | 19 September 2018 (aged 81) |
| Occupation | Professor of law |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | Queens' College, Cambridge |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Lawyer |
| Institutions | |
John Alan Hopkins (16 December 1936 – 19 September 2018)[1] was an English legal academic known for developing Downing College's reputation for law. He was a Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge and an Honorary Fellow of Hughes Hall, Cambridge.
Early education and career
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John Hopkins was born at
In his capacity as Director of Studies in Law at Downing for over 40 years, and also as a University Lecturer, John Hopkins taught Constitutional, Equity and International law. Following his time at Downing, he was appointed Director of Studies in Law at Hughes Hall, Cambridge.
He had a characteristic style of supervision, delivered with pipe in hand, smoking matches, as the pipe never seemed to light, and banging the pipe on the bottom of his shoe, which has had a widespread influence on generations of lawyers who read law at Cambridge. He taught
The following describes his supervisions perfectly:
The memorable use of "the pipe". John talks. The pipe empty of tobacco, filled from the tin, the waving of the large box of matches, the extraction of the match, the shutting of the box, the box put aside, the pointing with the pipe, the taking up of the box, the striking of the match, the box put aside the lift of pipe and match to the face, the draw – and again and again without result, the extinction of the match with one flick of the wrist, the pipe unlit and so to the repeat – to box, to match, to pipe and on. and with each movement an emphasis, a comment, a question, a pause for reply and a demand for response. All kindly done with twinkle in the eye for such clever of dumb intellects as had presented themselves to his room to be taught. And taught to good effect.[3]
Awards and honours
He was a Master Bencher of Middle Temple, and was a Honorary Bencher since 1982.[4] In 2012, John Hopkins was conferred Honorary Fellowship of Hughes Hall, Cambridge after serving for 8 years as the College's Director of Studies in Law.[5]
Personal life
John Hopkins was a keen member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and a stalwart of The Athenaeum.
His marriage to Charity A. "Cherry" Busbridge took place in Abingdon, Oxfordshire in 1964, while she was still a post-graduate research student:[6] it was followed by the births of their two children in 1971 and 1974.[7] Cherry Hopkins is a life fellow and former Director of Studies in law at Girton College, Cambridge.[8]
References
- ^ John Alan Hopkins
- Daily Telegraph, London. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ Address to The Special Cranworth Dinner in honour of John Hopkins given at Middle Temple, London on 4/3/04.[clarification needed]
- ^ "Mr John Hopkins | the Fellowship | Hughes Hall". www.hughes.cam.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Fellow and Senior Members". Hughes Hall, Cambridge. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
- ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Professor John Hopkins obituary". Unconventional, reactionary, state school supporting Cambridge law don with a dislike of television and a devotion to Winnie-the-Pooh. The Times, London. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- ^ "Mrs Cherry Hopkins". Faculty of Law. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 6 April 2019.