Alexander Roche, Baron Roche
Encyclopedia
Alexander Adair Roche, Baron Roche PC
(24 July 1871 – 22 December 1956), known under his second surname, was a British
barrister and law lord.
and studied then at Wadham College, Oxford
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1894 and a Master of Arts in 1913. He was called to the bar by the Inner Temple
in 1896 and went to the Northern Circuit.
in 1917. Later in that year, he was appointed to the High Court of Justice (King's Bench Division), on whose occasion he was created a Knight Bachelor
. He served as chairman of the Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions from 1932 and held the same post in the Central Agricultural Wages Board from 1940.
In 1934, Roche was made a Lord Justice of Appeal
and was sworn off the Privy Council
. On 14 October 1935 to fill a vacancy he was nominated a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
receiving the traditional life peer
age as Baron Roche, of Chadlington, in the County of Oxfordshire
. Roche retired already in 1938 and a year thereafter he became Treasurer of the Inner Temple.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(24 July 1871 – 22 December 1956), known under his second surname, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
barrister and law lord.
Background
He was the second son of William Brock Roche and his wife Mary Fraser, daughter of William Fraser. Roche was educated at Ipswich SchoolIpswich School
Ipswich School is a co-educational public school for girls and boys aged 3 to 18. Situated in Suffolk, England in the town of Ipswich, it was founded in its current form as The King's School, Ipswich by Thomas Wolsey in 1528....
and studied then at Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1894 and a Master of Arts in 1913. He was called to the bar by the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1896 and went to the Northern Circuit.
Career
Roche became a King's Counsel in 1912 and was elected a bencherBencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
in 1917. Later in that year, he was appointed to the High Court of Justice (King's Bench Division), on whose occasion he was created a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
. He served as chairman of the Oxfordshire Quarter Sessions from 1932 and held the same post in the Central Agricultural Wages Board from 1940.
In 1934, Roche was made a Lord Justice of Appeal
Lord Justice of Appeal
A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, and represents the second highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales-Appointment:...
and was sworn off the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. On 14 October 1935 to fill a vacancy he was nominated a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary
Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, commonly known as Law Lords, were appointed under the Appellate Jurisdiction Act 1876 to the House of Lords of the United Kingdom in order to exercise its judicial functions, which included acting as the highest court of appeal for most domestic matters...
receiving the traditional life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
age as Baron Roche, of Chadlington, in the County of Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. Roche retired already in 1938 and a year thereafter he became Treasurer of the Inner Temple.