Robert Ashley, a member of the Middle Temple, died in 1641, bequeathing all of his books to the Inn to found a library there, and £300 to employ a Library Keeper. While Ashley did practise as a lawyer, he was more successful as a translator and bibliophile. William Cox was one of the executors of Ashley’s will and was commissioned to create a catalogue of his books; Cox was the first Library Keeper from 1642 to 1655.
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The law requires trustees of a pension scheme with more than 100 members to prepare a “Statement of Investment Principles (“SIP”) and ensure it is reviewed at least every three years and without delay after any significant change in investment policy. Written advice should be taken when preparing and reviewing the SIP.
The purpose of a SIP is to set out the Scheme’s investment strategy, including the investment objectives and investment policies adopted.
BPTC Awards
The Queen’s Scholarship
- Aislinn Kelly-Lyth
Queen Mother Scholarships
Students pursuing a career at the Bar are strongly encouraged to, where possible, volunteer for pro bono services. These activities are vital for building up practical advocacy and client facing skills, legal knowledge and gaining insight into the legal profession. Beyond the obvious value of practical experience, volunteering will furnish your CV and enhance any scholarship or pupillage applications you will make and provide you with personal real-world examples to cite and discuss in interviews.
In March 2021 the Inn’s Lent Reader, His Honour John Mitchell, very sadly passed away.
Master Mitchell was a dedicated Bencher and committed advocacy trainer and moot judge. He thoroughly enjoyed his time as Lent Reader, and his kindness and support will be remembered by generations of students.
Master Treasurer, Andrew Hochhauser QC, and Mass Ndow-Njie, delivered the reading in honour of Master Mitchell, focusing on the life of Thomas Chester, believed to be the first African American to be Called to the English Bar.
Recorded Wednesday 23 June 2021.
Julian Assange, in the last several months, and, before him, Lauri Love, Roman Polankshy, Gary McKinnon, Shrien Dewani, Babar Ahmed, The Natwest Three bankers, and Augusto Pinochet. Each has fought a request for their extradition. Each has gripped press headlines.
But just how complex can an area of law be when it is solely governed by one Act of Parliament, the Extradition Act 2003?
We are delighted to announce that we are a Supporter of Charter for Black Talent in Finance and the Professions. The aim of the Charter is to promote equality of opportunity for Black people in finance and the professions, and more can be read about it at blacktalentcharter.com.
The law requires trustees of a pension scheme to prepare an Engagement Policy Implementation Statement (EPIS) and ensure it is renewed annually. The EPIS must set out information on how the trustee have put the Statement of Investment Principles (SIP) into practice, particularly in relation to stewardship and engagement. Trustees must publish their EPIS online. Please note that this document only applies to the Inn’s defined-benefit pension scheme.
As the Chelsea Flower Show draws in this weekend, we look back at The Chrysanthemum Show of the Temple Gardens which occurred during the mid-1800s. It was seen as an occasion of acknowledged significance, not just for the Inn, but for London society at large.
At various points from 1853 to 1885, the Middle Temple Gardens were opened for a public display of flflowers, namely Chrysanthemums. These were of such revere and success that in 1857, the Treasurer of the day, Master O’Malley, proposed at a meeting of Parliament that the gardener be given £5 ‘for the satisfaction of his chrysanthemums’.
The pompon chrysanthemums were a particularly popular feature of these shows and the Head Gardener, Joseph Dale, published a sixpenny manual on their cultivation ‘in or near large towns’, which suggested an arrangement of five rows of chrysanthemums in a twelve feet wide border with a row of pompon chrysanthemums in the front.
The show was also featured in the newspapers and magazines of the time. In 1880, The Daily News reported that “the head gardener has gathered a very creditable collection of about 400 plants, including many old-established favourites.” One Victorian magazine published a drawing named Sunday Blooms at the Temple featuring a short rhyming couplet “First to the Church, where the choir a nice anthem hums; then to the Gardens, to see the Chrysanthemums!”
However, sadly, The Middle Temple Garden Flower show eventually drew to an end when the Chrysanthemums Committee wrote to Parliament recommending that they abandon the show on the “grounds of economy, want of space, and the consequent additional labour involved.” While this decision was met with great sadness by the gardener who felt moved to write to Parliament expressing his dismay at this, it was passed and the last show occurred in 1885.
Gardener
£20.000–22,400 gross per annum (depending on experience)
As one of the four Inns of Court, we are proud to provide support, education and accommodation to barristers at every stage of their careers.
In this Part-time role (30 hrs / 4 dys pw) you will ensure the gardens are maintained to a high standard. This will include maintaining lawns (e.g. mowing, edging), plus seasonal tasks (e.g. scarifying, re-seeding, turfing); pruning & training shrubs; care and development of ornamental areas including roses, herbaceous and bedding plants, containers, trees and shrubs, vegetables and nursery areas etc.
We’d love to hear from you if you have knowledge of garden maintenance and plant care (e.g. ability to identify and name plants previously worked with) ideally gained through 2+ years’ experience working in professional gardens and/or Horticulture Qualification L1 (or higher), or equivalent.
We provide a raft of benefits to our people including Life Assurance, an Employee Assistance Programme (online resources and access to confidential counselling services), Private Medical insurance (incl, gym membership), medical cashback scheme (e.g. for dental, optical), generous pension (12% employer contribution), Season Ticket Loans, generous annual leave entitlements, access to a range of learning & development opportunities as well as the opportunity to join our dedicated team and work in a beautiful, unique and historical setting in central London.
Middle Temple is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an environment that promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are looking for candidates who share this commitment and we strongly encourage candidates to apply regardless of your socioeconomic circumstances, gender, race, religion and belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability or anything else that makes you who you are. As a Disability Confident employer we interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.
To submit your application for this exciting opportunity, please click ‘Apply’ now and visit the Middle Temple jobs page to find further information about us, all our vacancies & the application process. CVs sent in isolation will not be considered. Applications close Monday 26 June 2023. Successful shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview on Monday 17 July 2023.