Seddon Cripps – His Honour the Lord Parmoor – 1942-2025

Seddon was called to the Bar in 1965, and became our Head of Chambers from about 1985. We always say “about” as he took over from his father Anthony Cripps QC, who had established the independent set at 1 Harcourt Buildings in 1959, and the handover from father to son was best described as smooth and organic rather than having noticeably taken effect on any precise date. 

In the 1970s Seddon built a substantial prosecution practice in Kent. He was also instructed by the DPP’s office (which was separate in those pre-CPS days) to prosecute particularly serious and important cases. This was alongside his development of a general common law civil practice, with niche areas in agricultural holding tenancies and holiday companies’ litigation, in which he was instructed by some of the top London solicitors, resulting in frequent High Court appearances. His knowledge of the rather obscure field of agricultural holdings made him the ‘go to’ senior junior in that area.

When defending in crime (infrequently though that was), he was a formidable opponent. His ability in cross-examination was devastating, but never remotely hectoring or bullying. It was (even in pre-“toolkit” times) unfailingly courteous, directly to-the-point, and executed with the greatest of charm.

He was appointed as Standing Counsel to HM Customs & Excise (as it then was) and involved in many of the most serious tax, drugs and import/export cases of the 80s and 90s.  These included many cases with sensitive issues, including the leading case on agent provocateur, state-created crime and abuse of process R v Shahzad and Latif in the House of Lords.

Many have remarked upon his qualities as an advocate and his very hard work ethic, driving in to the Inner Temple in the early hours to make a 6.30 start on many occasions, and how he had an absolute mastery of the cases he was to conduct.  He was a phenomenal worker with a phenomenal memory. If you came into a case he knew all of the phone numbers and car registration numbers. He reduced jury bundles to the bare essentials and would produce a daily list of the batting order, past and future, showing who was still coming and when. When trials were adjourned he would be a leading party to the rounding up of Defence Counsel to get the case restarted.

He frequently led  junior members of Chambers, who learned  a huge amount from his analytical and focussed approach to a complex case, most memorably always that distillation to the bare bones of the evidence - to get to those central issues that would be really important.  As a pupil-master he would often drive his pupils to court, quizzing them for much of the journey not only upon what questions they would ask, but how they would react to one or more of a selection of answers.  No less than 3 members of Chambers succeeded him as Standing Counsel to the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office.  Undoubtedly it was Seddon who established that proud tradition in Chambers, which continues today.

For a traditional and classically-trained advocate he was  also very keen on new technology, having  some of the earliest models of mobile phones, which could operate both in his car (with a corded handset) and could be set up, complete with  aerial and a substantial heatsink, in a room at court.  His former pupils have commented on his support, his generosity and hospitality, and that of the family, with whom they were often accommodated for cases out of London. Members also remember him for his generosity with his time, his kindness to all, and the help he was always willing to offer in chambers, as well as for some excellent parties at his home in Buckinghamshire.  He would always have a twinkle in his eye, and something of a mischievous sense of humour.

In 2008  he succeeded to the family title as the 5^th Baron Parmoor upon the death of his cousin.   

In 1998 he was appointed a Circuit Judge, sitting first at St Albans Crown Court, and latterly as Resident Judge at Aylesbury.   As a judge he was  firm and efficient, but also unfailingly courteous and calm, and popular with court staff. He retained his sense of humour and had his “Gazza” moment when, with more than a hint of mischief he asked “what is a sofa bed?” From 2000 he also served as President of the Immigration Services Tribunal. He retired as a Judge upon his 70^th birthday in 2012.

Our sympathies and very best wishes go to his family. RIP SC.