OBITUARIES

John C. K. Elliott, MBE 1937 – 2018

John Elliott was born on the 13th March 1937, the son of Charles Elliott, who died on the 1st January 1967, and Leslie Margaret Elliott (née Bush). Charles Elliott was a Barrister of Law and in his day one of the leading and busiest Members of the Junior Bar on the Manchester Circuit.

John in his youth lived in Hale, Cheshire and initially went to a local Prep School, was moved to North Wales when the Head Master of the local School suggested to his mother that he would not pass Common Entrance. This was a somewhat “prophetic” statement because four years later he did fail his Common Entrance Exam to Shrewsbury. His mother’s cousin, Alan Bush, went to Mill Hill in the 1930’s and on leaving gained a trial for the English Rugger Team.

In order for John to be accepted into Mill Hill, his mother had to obtain a copy of his Common Entrance papers. Whilst doing so she noted in the Scripture Paper, there was a question “Why should thou not steal?” John’s answer was circled by a red ink and it read “In case you got found out”. If he had written “Because of the 10 Commandments” or even appropriately stated which commandment it was, he probably would have entered Shrewsbury with a scholarship!

Fortunately for him, Mill Hill decided he must have some Rugger genes in his blood from the Bush family and, therefore, accepted him! The mere fact that these responses to the Scripture question were made by somebody who subsequently became a solicitor, is rather “prophetic”!

He joined Mill Hill in 1950 entering Weymouth House which used to be located in the School House. His career at the School was recognised as not very successful because, with the other six members of his study, he could have been described as a “rebel”. He actually remained friends with many of them for the rest of his life. However, during his time at Mill Hill he happily never played rugger for the School and maybe only once or twice played for his House. He also played few other sports!

Whilst in his fifth year at School, another “prophetic” event happened. One of his friends who had left the previous year came back to see his old study mates who sent him out to the Hammers Pub to bring back some beer! The result of this was a near expulsion of the whole Study but fortunately the House Master during that time was Mr. Meade King, who took a very fair and balanced line on such pupils. This was another “prophetic” event as four years later when the new 6th form Block was opened, they actually allowed beer in for the 6th formers!

John left Mill Hill having failed to gain Latin O-Level throughout the 5th and 6th forms, having taken it on every possible occasion. He needed this as he wished to be a Lawyer, so he went to a Manchester post-public school crammer establishment called Grimes. He managed to fail this again in the November exam, so his father took him on one side and said “Look, you cannot get into university to read law without this O-Level and if you want to become a solicitor it is vital. I shall, therefore, give you an incentive – if you pass I will give a car”. As a result, John then managed to take the matter more seriously and finished up with one of the highest results possible in Latin O-Level in that summer term. One might say his father, was relieved that he had passed but on the other hand was outraged that it had taken such a bribe to get him to take the matter seriously! (The car cost a lot less than the School fees!)

John became Articled to a firm of solicitors in Manchester called John Gorna & Co whilst attending Manchester University in order to qualify as a solicitor. Five years after qualifying, which he did at the first attempt, he set up his own firm, which after two years became known as Elliott & Company. The firm grew under his leadership from initially two Partners and nine staff in premises in Lloyd Street, Manchester, to a firm thirty years later with one hundred and seventy five Partners and staff with offices in both Manchester and London and part of an international network of twenty five Law firms.

In the late seventies and eighties, regional law firms in the North West and elsewhere in the Provinces were gaining ground and from a standing start, John’s firm was in the forefront of this growth. That has changed in the current century whereby most of these firms have now merged into national firms. Whilst Elliott & Company is now part of a larger firm, its governance is still in the Provinces. The international presence for the firm was made possible by the creation of a network known as Euro-American Lawyer Group (EALG) which remains an active Association and one of John’s proudest achievements in the Law.

John became President of The Manchester Law Society in 1982 and played an active role in the main Solicitors Charity –The Solicitors Benevolent Association.

Although a skilled lawyer and a powerful negotiator, John’s distinguishing characteristic was the force of his personality. Indeed the social aspect of his career was of equal, if not greater, significance to this highly charismatic individual. His connections in the legal establishment in Manchester and beyond were a significant element of his success and of huge personal importance.

John used his influence and persuasive capabilities to support good causes and for many years worked with the NSPCC and became Chairman of the Manchester Branch, particularly being involved in fundraising: one of a number of Campaigns raised over £1million. In 1999 he received the usual notice that he was due to be awarded the MBE for his charitable work.