Godfrey Vick

Who was Godfrey Vick?

Sir Godfrey Russell Vick KC was an English lawyer and judge who played a part in several important tribunals.

Vick was born West Hartlepool, the son of Richard William Vick JP and Emily née Oughtred. He was educated at The Leys School and Jesus College, Cambridge. He served in the Durham Light Infantry during World War I, being called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1917, and practised successfully, largely as a criminal lawyer. He served both as Chairman of the Bar Council and variously as a recorder in Richmond, Halifax and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He was subsequently made a county court judge, and became a bencher of the Inner Temple.

His service on public enquiries included:

⁕London County Council remand homes;

⁕The black market in petrol;

⁕Lynskey tribunal into political corruption;

⁕Ill-treatment of prisoners at HM Prison Liverpool.

He contested the constituency of Bishop Auckland at the 1918 General Election for the Coalition Liberals and finished second. He contested the constituency of Hartlepool at the 1945 General Election for the Liberal Party and finished third.