Professor Joseph Turner

Professor Joseph Turner was the fourth holder of the Queen Victoria Chair in English Law at the University of Liverpool’s Faculty of Law (as it then was). Following the first three Queen Victoria Chairs (Jenks, Emmott and Lyon Blease), Joseph Turner took up the chair in 1949. This followed Lyon Blease’s record tenure as Queen Victoria Chair of thirty years. Turner’s tenure was relatively short-lived compared with his immediate predecessor. He held the post for five years until 1954. Here, we explore his life and time at Liverpool.

Joseph Turner (1911-1986)[i] was born in 1911 in Wigan. He was one of seven children. His father was injured in the First World War following a gas attack. By way of religion Turner’s family were Plymouth Brethren.

Education

Turner was educated at Wigan Grammar School and the University of Liverpool. Whilst at the University of Liverpool, Turner was taught by, amongst others, Hartley Shawcross, later Lord Shawcross QC. Turner graduated with a first-class LL.B. degree. 

Following graduation, Turner obtained articles at a firm of solicitors in Wigan that specialised in commercial law. This was the firm of Arthur Smith and Broadie Griffith. Turner passed the Law Society finals with distinction.

Turner then moved to St. Albans with his new wife, Cora.

Academic Career

Once in St. Albans Turner became a law tutor for a firm providing courses for those wishing to take the solicitors’ examinations at the Law Society. This was a form of crammer college. Turner subsequently obtained a post at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), part of the University of London. One of Turner’s colleagues at the LSE was David Seaborne Davies, later Professor Seaborne Davies. In due course, the two scholars would work together again in Liverpool at the Faculty of Law (as it then was). After his time at the LSE, Turner worked for a short time in Manchester as a solicitor in partnership with David Blank.

Turner then joined the University of Liverpool and the Faculty of Law. At this point in time the Faculty of Law was still based in Cook Street, Liverpool. The building was destroyed in bombing raids over Liverpool in May 1941. At this point, Turner joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) and was posted to the Near East. He was mentioned in despatches. Whilst in the RAF, Turner conducted Courts Martial holding the rank of acting Wing Commander. Turner had been called to the Bar by Gray’s Inn in May 1946.

Following the Second World War, Turner joined Edward Ackroyd in chancery chambers at 15 Union Court, Liverpool. In due course he moved to 20 North John Street, Liverpool. Turner had a traditional chancery practice encompassing company and partnership law, wills, taxation, trusts and conveyancing.  His pupils included Graham Routledge and several judges, including Michael O’Donoghue, David Gilliland QC, William George, his nephew David Turner QC and Mr Justice Peter Smith. Turner also sat as a deputy High Court judge.

Lynch recalls instructing Turner: “He was the foremost chancery practitioner in Liverpool…I recall instructing him in the early 1960’s to obtain an injunction to prevent “Lulu and the Luvvers” from appearing at a restaurant in the basement of the Royal Liver Building as it was thought that wild music would cause young people to lose control and damage the premises.”[ii] The outcome of the case is not given.

After the war, Turner returned to Liverpool to help rebuild the Faculty of Law. Premises were found in Abercromby square. A secretary (Anne) and a porter (Danny) were appointed.[iii] Student numbers slowly recovered.

Turner was appointed to the Queen Victoria Chair in English Law in 1949. As noted above, he took over the chair from Lyon Blease, who continued as University Public Orator. At this time, David Seaborne Davies was the Chair of Common Law in the Faculty of Law. The old LSE workmates were re-united. At the time of his appointment Turner lived in Fylde with his wife Cora.

Turner held the post of Dean of the Faculty of Law on two occasions. First in the 1945-1946 academic year and second in the 1953-1954 academic year. Turner retired from the Queen Victoria Chair in Law in 1955. He was replaced by Professor Denis Browne, a specialist in equity and editor of the famous MacGillivray on Insurance Law.

Whilst teaching at the University of Liverpool, Turner would hold tutorials on a Sunday in his spacious and welcoming house in Mossley Hill Drive, Sefton Park. These tutorial sessions became “legendary for the food and hospitality provided by Joe and Cora…”[iv]

Turner was persuaded out of retirement in 1962 to take up a part-time chair in property law at the University of Manchester. He undertook this role on a part-time basis lecturing in Manchester until August 1968.

Turner’s interests included rugby league (watching), reading, and music.

Turner became a member of the Institute of Conveyancers in 1972.

Despite his namesake, JMW Turner, there are no surviving portraits of Professor Joseph Turner.

Turner died in November 1986, aged 75. He was buried near his home in Goathland. His wife Cora had pre-deceased him.

References

[i] On whom see further: HHJ William George. Professor Joseph Turner, in: Fagan, N & Bryson, G & Elston, C (Eds). A Century of Liverpool Lawyers. Liverpool Law Society, Liverpool. 2002, pp.165. Hereafter George. See also: University of Liverpool Special Collections and Archives, University Archive: D255/10/1/121 - Joseph Turner (Victoria Chair of Law) - n.d. [c.1975-1980] - Notes on career (source unknown). Kelly, T. For Advancement of Learning – The University of Liverpool1881-1891. University of Liverpool Press, Liverpool, 1981, pp.376, 522, 528.

[ii] Lynch, D. Northern Circuit Directory 1876-2004. The Bluecoat Press, Liverpool, 2005, p.485.

[iii] George, p.167.

[iv] George, p. 168.

 

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