Sir Alexander Roy Asplin Beldam, PC (29 March 1925 – 16 October 2020) was a British judge who served as Lord Justice of Appeal in England and Wales from 1989 until 2000.[1]

Sir Roy Beldam
Lord Justice of Appeal
In office
1989–2000
Personal details
Born(1925-03-29)29 March 1925
Died16 October 2020(2020-10-16) (aged 95)
NationalityBritish
OccupationJudge
ProfessionBarrister

Early years edit

He was the son of the first-class cricketer and photographer George Beldam and his second wife, Margaret Underwood.[2]

After attending Oundle School, he served in the wartime Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, flying as an Observer in Grumman Avengers with the British Pacific Fleet.[3]

Career edit

He was called to the Bar in 1950 and made Queen's Counsel in 1969. After appointment as a Recorder in 1972, he was appointed a judge of the High Court in 1981 for which he received the customary knighthood.[1]

In 1989, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, where he served until his retirement in 2000. He was made a member of the Privy Council in 1989. He also served as Legal Assessor to the General Medical Council from 1976–81, and as Chairman of the Law Commission from 1985–89.[1] He was also a Bencher of the Inner Temple.[4]

His daughter, Alexandra Beldam, was called to the Bar in 1981 and has been the Registrar of Criminal Appeals, Master of the Crown Office and Queen's Coroner since 5 November 2018.[5]

He died on 16 October 2020 at the age of 95.[6]

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ a b c "Sir Roy Beldam". Crown Office Chambers. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  2. ^ Obituary, the times.co.uk. Accessed 24 December 2022.
  3. ^ Iredale, W. The Kamikaze Hunters 2006 pp 33-34, 275-278; ISBN 9780230768192
  4. ^ "Inner Temple Yearbook (2014)" (PDF). Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Registrar of Criminal Appeals, Master of the Crown Office and Queen's Coroner & Attorney Appointment: Beldam". judiciary.uk. Judiciary of England and Wales. 8 October 2018.
  6. ^ Obituary, the times.co.uk. Accessed 24 December 2022.