Stephen, I wondered if you could remember your first arrival at what is now Hailsham Chambers?

Yes, I can.

It seems so long ago, but I remember... arriving in the temple staring at a very large building a very handsome building that was covered in black soot which turned out to be paper buildings arrived at the doorstep at number four was greeted by a very plush concrete entranceway arrived through the front door and to a nice reception area that was painted white walls and brown lino single light bulb hanging from the ceiling and i have to say it wasn't what i quite expected from a barrister's place of work but those are my early memories

Tell us, in your view, how medical litigation has developed, I suppose, over your time here.

Yeah.

Yes, I mean, fortunately, I mean, when I arrived in 1975, the Chambers had already an established medical practice in that we were representing doctors, hospitals and acting for plaintiffs as they then were, but obviously now claimants.

We had two or three very prominent plaintiffs.

members that were doing the work but but the main person really that took this work forward was Jean Ritchie she was a very popular and sought after junior for medical work medical cases and we just hit the time right with her practice the it became more commonplace for the public to sue the the hospitals and it just it just led on from there