Carl Aarvold

Who was Carl Aarvold?

Sir Carl Douglas Aarvold, OBE, TD, was an English barrister who became Recorder of London. Among other cases, he presided at the 1965 trial of the Kray twins. In his earlier days, he was also an England rugby union international player

Born in Hartlepool, he was educated at Durham School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge and from 1928 until 1933 played rugby 16 times for his country, captaining the side six times. He was called to the bar in 1932. Two years later he married Noeline Hill at St George's, Hanover Square, and the marriage yielded three sons.

His professional career was interrupted by World War II during which he served in the Royal Artillery and reached the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1945 for his war service and also received the Territorial Decoration

Embarking on a legal career, he was by 1951 the Recorder of Pontefract and then Judge of the Lord Mayor's and City of London Court. By now Master of the Inner Temple he was promoted to be Senior Judge at The Old Bailey in 1964 and knighted in 1968.