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Hubert Dunn

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His Honour, Judge
Hubert Dunn
Local Government Commissioner (South-East Circuit)
In office
1963–1964
Recorder
In office
1980–1993
Circuit Judge (London and the South-East)
In office
1993–2005
Legal Member, Restricted Patients Panel, Mental Health Tribunal
Chief Immigration Adjudicator of the United Kingdom
In office
1998–2001
Personal details
Born
William Hubert Dunn

(1933-07-08)8 July 1933
Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland
Died27 February 2020(2020-02-27) (aged 86)
England
CitizenshipBritish
SpouseMaria Henriqueta D'Araujo Perestrello
Children2
EducationWinchester College
Alma materNew College, Oxford
ProfessionBarrister
Military service
Branch/serviceArmy
Years of service1956–57
RankSecond lieutenant
UnitLife Guards
Writing career
SubjectPoetry / Biography
Notable worksThe Minstrel Boy: Francis Ledwidge, and the Literature of His Time

William Hubert Dunn (8 July 1933 – 27 February 2020) was a Northern Ireland-born English senior barrister and judge, who held national offices in the areas of mental health and immigration, including that of Chief Immigration Adjudicator of the UK. A leader in a youth charity for many years, later in life he researched and authored a study of the life and work of the Irish poet Francis Ledwidge.

Early life

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William Hubert Dunn, known for most of his life as Hubert,[1] was born in Belfast[2] on 8 July 1933, the son of businessman William and Isobel Dunn (née Thompson) of Tudor Hall, Holywood, County Down, Northern Ireland.[1] He attended the nearby Rockport School in County Down and later Winchester College, making him an Old Wykehamist.[2] He studied for a Bachelor of Arts in politics, economics and philosophy at New College, Oxford, graduating with honours in 1955.[2][3] He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Life Guards on 4 August 1956, relinquishing his commission exactly a year later and transferring into the reserve.[4][5][2] In 1958 he was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn.[6] He worked at the chambers of Lord Havers and Frederick Lawton.[2] He returned to New College, and in 1966 secured an M.A.[1]

Career

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Dunn was appointed Local Government Commissioner for the South-East Circuit of England, serving 1963 to 1964. He qualified to serve as a recorder in 1970[1] and was appointed as such in 1980.[6] He was made a Queen's Counsel in 1982 and appointed as a circuit judge in 1993,[3] serving until October 2005.[6] He was later appointed as the Legal Member of the Restricted Patients Panel of the Mental Health Tribunal, which deals with patients detained after trial.[6]

Dunn was appointed an immigration adjudicator and special adjudicator (dealing with asylum cases), and was appointed Chief Immigration Adjudicator for the United Kingdom by the Lord Chancellor in 1998,[6] appearing before the UK parliament in that capacity.[7] He concluded his immigration work in 2001.[2]

Non-profit and charitable work

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Dunn served as a Bencher (a member of the governing body) of Lincoln's Inn from 1990 to his death.[8] He was the founder, and for a period secretary, of the London Ulster Lawyers' Union.[1]

Dunn was a leader from the early years of the charity Hope for Youth (formerly the Women Caring Trust for the Children of Northern Ireland), which runs cross-community projects for young people in Northern Ireland.[3] He became chairperson ща the charity's trustees, and when he retired from that role in 2003, assumed the role of president of the charity;[9] his daughter later became a trustee of the charity.[3][10]

Writing

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Dunn was interested in the Irish poet Francis Ledwidge and cooperated with groups also interested in Ledwidge, including speaking at commemorative events.[11] Having secured access to the curator and archive at Dunsany Castle, he produced a substantial illustrated study of the life, work and literary influences of the poet in 2006, The Minstrel Boy: Francis Ledwidge, and the Literature of His Time,[2][12] which included some previously unpublished poems.[13][14]

Personal life

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Dunn married Maria Henriqueta D'Araujo Perestrello de Moser, from Portugal, generally known as Henriqueta, in 1971.[1] Their elder child, Cherry Eugenia Perestrello Dunn, born 1972, also pursued legal studies, becoming a solicitor,[15] while their younger, James Hubert Sebastian Perestrello Dunn, born 1973,[1] is generally known as the actor Sebastian Dunn. Henriqueta Dunn died on 5 November 2018[16] and Hubert Dunn on 27 February 2020.[17][3] His funeral was private, with donations invited to the charity he had long worked with, Hope for Youth (NI), and a memorial service planned.[17] The memorial service was announced to be held in October 2021, in the chapel of Lincoln's Inn, followed by a reception in the Inn's Old Hall.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh, ed. (1976). Burke's Irish Family Records (Successor to the 4 editions of Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland ed.). London, UK: Burke's Peerage Ltd. p. 386.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Chambre, Kate (14 April 2007). "Retired judge swaps the law for literature". The Belfast Newsletter. p. 18.
  3. ^ a b c d e "His Honour Hubert Dunn QC". Hope for Youth (NI). 10 March 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  4. ^ "No. 40893". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 October 1956. p. 5615.
  5. ^ "No. 41142". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 August 1957. p. 4641.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Court Circular". The Times (of London). 6 October 2005.
  7. ^ "Other Standing Committees: Immigration and Asylum Bill". UK Parliament. The Houses of Parliament of the United Kingdom. 25 March 1999. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  8. ^ "His Honour Hubert Dunn QC". The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Court Circular". The Times (of London). 15 May 2003.
  10. ^ "Who we are". Hope for Youth (NI). Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  11. ^ Richardson, Fionnuala (2008). "Irish Labour History Society 2007". Saothar. 33. The Irish Labour History Society: 4.
  12. ^ Dunn, Hubert (2006). The Minstrel Boy : Francis Ledwidge and the Literature of His Time (1st ed.). County Down, Northern Ireland: Booklink. ISBN 0955409705.
  13. ^ "The Minstrel Boy : Francis Ledwidge and the Literature of His Time". bl.uk. The British Library. Retrieved 14 September 2021. 266pp, col. illus.
  14. ^ The Minstrel Boy : Francis Ledwidge and the Literature of His Life (sic). Amazon LLC. 30 October 2006. ISBN 978-0-9554097-0-7. Retrieved 14 September 2021. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  15. ^ "Cherry Eugenia Perestrello Dunn". The Law Society. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Maria Henriqueta Dunn". The Daily Telegraph. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Dunn, William Hubert". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Memorial Service: Hubert Dunn QC". Lincoln's Inn. The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. Retrieved 20 September 2021.