December 5, 2025
Red Lion Chambers is saddened to learn of the passing on 30th November 2025 of one of its most distinguished former members, the late Sir John Blofeld KC.
Called to the Bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1956 following his time at Eton and Kings College Cambridge, Sir John Blofeld joined Chambers (then located at 5 Kings Bench Walk, Temple) shortly after it had been established in 1949.
Sir John Blofeld practised at the junior Bar until taking Silk in 1975. It was a time of exponential growth for Chambers.
During the late 1970’s when the late Sir Michael Havers QC (subsequently Baron Havers PC) was Head of Chambers, Sir John Blofeld was actively involved in its administration. Amongst his work at this time, Sir John Blofeld acted as an Inspector at the Department of Trade.
Sir John Blofeld was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, in 1990 and he sat until his retirement in 2001. He was Presiding Judge on the South Eastern Circuit between 1993 and 1996, as well as Chancellor of the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich between 1973 and 2009, and Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich between 1998 and 2007. Among his well-known decisions, he was one of the appeal court judges who freed the group known as M25 Three in 2000, a major miscarriage of justice case.
Red Lion Chambers remembers Sir John Blofeld fondly and with gratitude and sends condolences to his family and friends.