Russell Vick

Sir Godfrey Russell Vick QC (24 December 1892 – 27 September 1958)[1] was an English lawyer, judge and Liberal Party politician.

Vick in 1936

Background

Vick was born at Strathmore House, West Hartlepool, the youngest son of Richard William Vick JP and Emily née Oughtred. He was educated at The Leys School and Jesus College, Cambridge. He played rugby for Hartlepool Rovers. He married Marjorie Hester Compston and the couple had two daughters and two sons, the younger of whom, Arnold Russell, also became a barrister and judge.[1]

Professional career

In August 1914 he joined the 11th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry serving during World War I in France and Flanders. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1917,[1] and practised successfully, on the North East circuit, largely as a criminal lawyer.[2] He served both as Chairman of the Bar Council and variously as a recorder in Richmond (1930-1931), Halifax (1931-1939) and Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1939-1956). In 1935 he was appointed a King's Counsel. He was subsequently made a county court judge, and became a bencher of the Inner Temple.[1] He was knighted in the 1950 King's Birthday Honours List. [3]

His service on public enquiries included:

Political career

He contested the constituency of Bishop Auckland at the 1918 General Election for the Coalition Liberals and finished second.

In 1919 he contested the constituency of Shoreditch in the 1919 London County Council election. He ran for the Liberal backed Progressive Party and narrowly missed out on election.

He contested the constituency of The Hartlepools at the 1945 General Election for the Liberal Party and finished third.

Electoral record
General Election 1918: Bishop Auckland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Benjamin Charles Spoor 10,060
National Liberal Godfrey Russell Vick 7,417
Liberal Dr. Vickerman Henzell Rutherford 2,411
Majority
Turnout
Labour hold Swing
Shoreditch in London
London County Council election, 1919: Shoreditch[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Green tickYHenry Ward 1,701
Labour Green tickY C E Taylor 1,464 35.3
Progressive Godfrey Russell Vick 1,454
Municipal Reform Major W Weber 1,116
Municipal Reform Rosamund Smith 1,110
Majority
Progressive hold Swing
Labour gain from Progressive Swing
General Election 1945: The Hartlepools[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour David Thomas Jones 16,502 41.2 n/a
Conservative Thomas George Greenwell 16,227 40.5 -23.6
Liberal Godfrey Russell Vick 6,903 17.3 n/a
Independent Harry Lane 390 1.0 n/a
Majority 275 0.7 -46.0
Turnout 76.1 +36.6
Labour gain from Conservative Swing n/a

References
  1. Who Was Who 1897-2006 (2007)
  2. Wade Baron (1966) p.58
  3. 1945 Hartlepool election leaflet
  4. Home Office (1958)
  5. London Municipal Notes – Volumes 18-23, London Municipal Society
  6. British Parliamentary Election Results 1918-1949, FWS Craig

Bibliography
  • Home Office (1945) "London County Council remand homes: report of Committee of Inquiry" Cmd.6594
  • Home Office (1958) "Allegations of Ill-Treatment of Prisoners in Her Majesty's Prison, Liverpool" Cmnd.503
  • Ministry of Fuel and Power.Committee on Petrol Rationing Control (1948) "Evasions of petrol rationing control" Cmd.7372
  • Wade Baron, S. (1966). The Contact Man: The Story of Sidney Stanley and the Lynskey Tribunal. Secker & Warburg.
  • Who Was Who 1897-2006 (2007) "Vick, His Honour Judge Sir Godfrey Russell", retrieved 25 August 2007 (subscription required)
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