In his capacity as Director of Studies in Law at Downing for over 40 years, and also as a University Lecturer, John Hopkins taught Constitutional, Equity and International law. Following his time at Downing, he was appointed Director of Studies in Law at Hughes Hall, Cambridge.
He had a characteristic style of supervision, delivered with pipe in hand, smoking matches, as the pipe never seemed to light, and banging the pipe on the bottom of his shoe, which has had a widespread influence on generations of lawyers who read law at Cambridge. He taught John CleeseEquity law and suggested that Cleese developed his Ministry of Silly Walks gait in avoiding the puddles in Downing College's court.
The following describes his supervisions perfectly:
The memorable use of "the pipe". John talks. The pipe empty of tobacco, filled from the tin, the waving of the large box of matches, the extraction of the match, the shutting of the box, the box put aside, the pointing with the pipe, the taking up of the box, the striking of the match, the box put aside the lift of pipe and match to the face, the draw – and again and again without result, the extinction of the match with one flick of the wrist, the pipe unlit and so to the repeat – to box, to match, to pipe and on. and with each movement an emphasis, a comment, a question, a pause for reply and a demand for response. All kindly done with twinkle in the eye for such clever of dumb intellects as had presented themselves to his room to be taught. And taught to good effect.[3]
Awards and honours
He was a Master Bencher of Middle Temple, and was a Honorary Bencher since 1982.[4] In 2012, John Hopkins was conferred Honorary Fellowship of Hughes Hall, Cambridge after serving for 8 years as the College's Director of Studies in Law.[5]
Personal life
John Hopkins was a keen member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and a stalwart of The Athenaeum.
His marriage to Charity A. "Cherry" Busbridge took place in Abingdon, Oxfordshire in 1964, while she was still a post-graduate research student:[6] it was followed by the births of their two children in 1971 and 1974.[7] Cherry Hopkins is a life fellow and former Director of Studies in law at Girton College, Cambridge.[8]
^Telegraph Obituaries (9 October 2018). "John Hopkins, Cambridge law don – obituary". The Telegraph. Daily Telegraph, London. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
^Address to The Special Cranworth Dinner in honour of John Hopkins given at Middle Temple, London on 4/3/04.[clarification needed]
^. www.hughes.cam.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
^. Hughes Hall, Cambridge. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
^"Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
^"Professor John Hopkins obituary". Unconventional, reactionary, state school supporting Cambridge law don with a dislike of television and a devotion to Winnie-the-Pooh. The Times, London. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
john, hopkins, lawyer, other, people, named, john, hopkins, john, hopkins, disambiguation, john, alan, hopkins, december, 1936, september, 2018, english, legal, academic, known, developing, downing, college, reputation, fellow, downing, college, cambridge, hon. For other people named John Hopkins see John Hopkins disambiguation John Alan Hopkins 16 December 1936 19 September 2018 1 was an English legal academic known for developing Downing College s reputation for law He was a Fellow of Downing College Cambridge and an Honorary Fellow of Hughes Hall Cambridge John Alan HopkinsBorn 1936 12 16 16 December 1936Hemsworth EnglandDied19 September 2018 2018 09 19 aged 81 OccupationProfessor of lawAcademic backgroundAlma materQueens College CambridgeAcademic workDisciplineLawyerInstitutionsDowning College Cambridge Hughes Hall Cambridge Contents 1 Early education and career 2 Awards and honours 3 Personal life 4 ReferencesEarly education and career Edit Downing College Cambridge where Hopkins spent the bulk of his academic careerJohn Hopkins was born at Hemsworth Yorkshire and relocated to Pontypridd when he was 12 2 He attended Pontypridd Boys Grammar School and then read law at Queens College Cambridge He was awarded his B A in 1960 and his LLB the following year accompanied by the Whewell Scholarship in International Law He was elected to a fellowship at Downing College in October 1961 He was called to the Bar by Gray s Inn in 1964 Thereafter he held many positions in college including Tutor Senior Tutor and Director of Studies in Law retiring in 2004 He became in addition a Visiting Professor at City University London in 1980 In 1981 he was elected Honorary Bencher of Middle Temple London He was a governor of Harrow School Sherborne School Eastbourne College and Wellington College In his capacity as Director of Studies in Law at Downing for over 40 years and also as a University Lecturer John Hopkins taught Constitutional Equity and International law Following his time at Downing he was appointed Director of Studies in Law at Hughes Hall Cambridge He had a characteristic style of supervision delivered with pipe in hand smoking matches as the pipe never seemed to light and banging the pipe on the bottom of his shoe which has had a widespread influence on generations of lawyers who read law at Cambridge He taught John Cleese Equity law and suggested that Cleese developed his Ministry of Silly Walks gait in avoiding the puddles in Downing College s court The following describes his supervisions perfectly The memorable use of the pipe John talks The pipe empty of tobacco filled from the tin the waving of the large box of matches the extraction of the match the shutting of the box the box put aside the pointing with the pipe the taking up of the box the striking of the match the box put aside the lift of pipe and match to the face the draw and again and again without result the extinction of the match with one flick of the wrist the pipe unlit and so to the repeat to box to match to pipe and on and with each movement an emphasis a comment a question a pause for reply and a demand for response All kindly done with twinkle in the eye for such clever of dumb intellects as had presented themselves to his room to be taught And taught to good effect 3 Awards and honours EditHe was a Master Bencher of Middle Temple and was a Honorary Bencher since 1982 4 In 2012 John Hopkins was conferred Honorary Fellowship of Hughes Hall Cambridge after serving for 8 years as the College s Director of Studies in Law 5 Personal life EditJohn Hopkins was a keen member of the Marylebone Cricket Club MCC and a stalwart of The Athenaeum His marriage to Charity A Cherry Busbridge took place in Abingdon Oxfordshire in 1964 while she was still a post graduate research student 6 it was followed by the births of their two children in 1971 and 1974 7 Cherry Hopkins is a life fellow and former Director of Studies in law at Girton College Cambridge 8 References Edit John Alan Hopkins Telegraph Obituaries 9 October 2018 John Hopkins Cambridge law don obituary The Telegraph Daily Telegraph London Retrieved 6 April 2019 Address to The Special Cranworth Dinner in honour of John Hopkins given at Middle Temple London on 4 3 04 clarification needed Mr John Hopkins the Fellowship Hughes Hall www hughes cam ac uk Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 12 January 2022 Fellow and Senior Members Hughes Hall Cambridge Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 8 July 2016 Index entry FreeBMD ONS Retrieved 6 April 2019 Professor John Hopkins obituary Unconventional reactionary state school supporting Cambridge law don with a dislike of television and a devotion to Winnie the Pooh The Times London 2 November 2018 Retrieved 6 April 2019 Mrs Cherry Hopkins Faculty of Law University of Cambridge Retrieved 6 April 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Hopkins lawyer amp oldid 1125918631, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
