About us:
a short history of one paper buildings

In 1954 Roger Bannister was the first man to run a mile in under four minutes. In the same year Malcolm McGougan was the first member of One Paper Buildings. The Golden Jubilee of that event was celebrated in 2004.

Malcolm McGougan was a member of the Western Circuit. He went on to become the Recorder of Poole and a deputy Chairman of Surrey Quarter Sessions. This connection enabled many pupils to earn an income and gain experience sitting as deputy clerks to Quarter Sessions, for which role the qualification of barrister or solicitor was essential. The coming of the Crown Court swept all that away.

Peter Ellis was Malcolm’s clerk. These were hard times at the Bar and harder times for clerks. Peter became an exceptional clerk and widely known as a 'legend in his own lifetime' in the Temple. He retired in 1988 but is still remembered with affection.

Donald Bain soon joined Malcolm. He had received the Military Cross. He was the only person to win this medal for service in England : he was a member of the Royal Artillery (Anti- aircraft). His career at the Bar was exceptional. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel and held many appointments including Recorder of Cambridge. Save for his untimely death he would undoubtedly have been a High Court Judge.

Following the death of Donald Bain, Leslie Boreham QC, a member of the South Eastern Circuit, became Head of Chambers. In 1972 he was appointed to the High Court Bench on which he served for many years. During this time he was the presiding Judge of the North Eastern Circuit and presided over the high profile trial of Peter Sutcliffe, “The Yorkshire Ripper”, and of Patrick Magee, "The Brighton Bomber". Amongst Leslie's other characteristics, he was well known for the fact that his wife, Lady Boreham, invariably sat beside him on the Bench. In May 2004 he died, aged 85.

Upon Leslie Boreham’s appointment, Mark Dyer, a member of the Western Circuit, became Head of Chambers. Mark was Head until 1977 when he was appointed a Circuit Judge. Later he was to be appointed the Recorder of Bristol which position he held until his retirement.

After Mark’s appointment to the Bench, the Headship of Chambers passed to Roger Titheridge Q.C. Roger had become a member of Chambers in 1955. Roger has only just retired from the Bar. He has almost been with chambers the full 50 years. Roger was exceptional both in civil and crime as a junior and in silk. He was appointed Recorder and later Deputy High Court Judge. For half the life of Chambers, he presided with authority, generosity and humanity. He was widely loved and respected. His distinguished career is an example to all members of Chambers.

Turning away from succession, a few other previous members of Chambers should be mentioned. Michael McMullan joined Chambers following a career in the Colonial Service. He was a member of the South Eastern Circuit. After appointment to the Bench, he became Resident Judge at Wood Green. Francis Petre left Chambers for a long career on the Circuit Bench including many years at the Old Bailey. David Elfer joined chambers having been Roger Titheridge’s first pupil. He gained silk as a member of the Western Circuit before becoming a Circuit Judge. Christopher Leigh Q.C. was much seen on both circuits before his appointment to the Bench in Southampton, where he joined the Resident Judge, His Honour Judge David Griffiths, also a former member of Chambers. Bernard Buckley, was a pupil of Michael McMullan, and one of the few contemporary members of Chambers to develop a substantial civil practice which he left recently to become a Chairman of Industrial Tribunals. No history is complete without mention of Bruce Markham David. Notwithstanding considerable ability as a barrister, Bruce felt the sudden need to become a pig farmer immediately following a family death! Pigs did not prove to be a complete substitute for crime: a short time later he accepted an appointment as a Recorder.

Alastair Malcolm Q.C. was a pupil of Mark Dyer. He was entrusted with the hard act of following Roger as Head of Chambers. In this he succeeded until on the 1st May 2004 he passed the leadership to Michael Hubbard Q.C. who had been in Chambers for 34 years.

back to top