Amity Dinner for Middle Temple

Speech by Master Treasurer

Master Treasurer (Kate, if I may be so bold), it is with great pleasure that I welcome you and all from Middle Temple to this Amity dinner.

The barristers of The Inner Temple and the Middle Temple began their cohabitation on this site in the 14th century, more than 200 years before we were united in perpetuity by the wisest fool in Christendom, King James I, by the charter which he granted to us both in 1608.

Those who came to this dinner in 2023 were reminded by my predecessor, but one, Sir Robert Francis, of the letter dated 28 July 1978, written by The Inner Temple’s then Sub-Treasurer, the redoubtable Commander Flynn, which baldly asserted that no ‘Amity’ can exist between the Inner and Middle Temples, since The Inner Temple’s only official Amity is with Gray’s Inn.

Only Rodney Flynn – a man who kept his black poodle in the bottom drawer of his desk – could have written such a misconceived missive. As someone who has had chambers in Gray’s Inn for over 40 years, I yield to no one in my affection for that more northerly institution. But The Inner Temple’s institutional affection for Gray’s is a mere dalliance – a cinq à sept – compared to our long union, both in location and in spirit, with the Middle Temple.

Some of The Inner Temple’s very earliest records reflect the ancient tradition of mutual hospitality between our two Inns. The record of the meeting of the Parliament of The Inner Temple, which was held on All Souls’ Day 1512, includes an order directed to those in charge of the Inn’s Christmas festivities, which takes for granted that it was the custom at Christmas time for the members of each of the two Inns to go as a group to visit the other’s hall.

Speaking of Christmas festivities, my own happy memories of the Middle Temple date from my earliest days as an aspiring lawyer, back when dinosaurs roamed legal London. Middle Temple had a bar, whereas The Inner Temple did not, and I spent many convivial evenings there. As a result, and despite being an Inner Templar, I was persuaded to produce and direct a modern version of Christmas Revels in Middle Temple Hall.

The world was different then, and the production included a high-kicking chorus line of female students in black satin hotpants, wigs and gowns. We were, of course, only trying to live up to the great 17th-century diarist and Middle Templar, John Evelyn’s, description of the Middle Temple’s Revels as
“an old, but riotous custom” with “relation to neither virtue nor policy”.

One of the dancers in this chorus line was the woman who shortly thereafter became my partner (now of nearly 50 years) and wife, Ginny. By way of thanks for allowing us to use the hall, at the end of the performance, Ginny was delegated to present to Middle Temple’s Treasurer, Lord Diplock, a photograph of himself on his horse – a beast which allegedly was named Circuit so that Diplock’s clerk could say that his governor was “out on Circuit” if he was absent when duty called.

To make the presentation more graceful, Ginny borrowed one of Middle’s elegant silver salvers from the serving staff, only for Lord Diplock – one of the bigger beasts of the time and, towards the end of his career, more Tyrannosaur than Diplodocus – to assume that he was being presented with the silver salver, rather than just the photograph that was on it.

A more modern memory that I have of the great affection and trust between our two Inns is of arriving at 8.30am on a cold Wednesday morning in November 2023 for The Inner Temple’s weekly Principal Officers’ meeting, only to be greeted by the sight of Middle Temple’s Under Treasurer standing on the terrace, making arrangements to move The Inner Temple’s Grand Day dinner over to the Middle Temple because The Inner Temple Treasury building had no electricity. Greater love hath no Inn than to cancel its own function to make way for that of another.

Writing in the time of King Charles I, Chief Baron Wilde (an Inner Templar) recorded that he knew “of no precedency between [the two Inns], they being alike equal in antiquity, honour and estimation”.

Between us, the Inner and Middle Temples have, over the years, given shelter to many famous adventurers – Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh and John Buchan among them. I hope that we, their successors, can take that historical delight in adventure into our 21st-century future, with a renewed spirit of confidence, co-operation and – yes – amity between our two learned, ancient and wonderful institutions.

Inner Templars, may I therefore ask you now to rise and drink a toast: to our cherished neighbours and partners in law, The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

Richard Salter KC
Treasurer 2025

Reply by the Treasurer of Middle Temple

Master Treasurer (Richard), on behalf of all your guests from Middle Temple may I thank you for this perfect evening. A delicious dinner, superb wines and excellent company. Add to those essential elements your kind words mixed with hilarious anecdotes, and you have entertained us royally. More importantly you have made us feel very welcome indeed. Thank you.

Until your speech, I had always assumed that describing Amity dinners as enmity dinners was just a mildly amusing play on words – one I’d heard a lot over the years. It was quite funny the first time. And the second. Maybe even the third. Each generation thinks it’s original. And it isn’t. But how very satisfying to know that as between our two Inns there was a relatively recent (and I still think of the 1970s as recent) explanation for the absence of amity – or perhaps even the presence of enmity. How magnificently narrow minded to declare that there could be no amity with Middle because there could only be amity with Gray’s. I think the young might put it thus “Yes, well I’ve been seeing Gray’s for a while, I wasn’t sure but, you know, I’ve been persuaded it’s time. We’ve finally decided to go exclusive.” I’m sorry to say Master Treasurer that Rodney Flynn, forever to be remembered as the man who kept his dog in a drawer, would have been outraged to know that you were flirting with Middle while living with Gray’s – right under his nose. We Middle Templars are not outraged. On the contrary we salute you.

I had thought about including in this speech a few lines about the wearing of hotpants – a garment which no cool teenage girl of the 1970s would be without – but that is for another time. Tonight is about the long and enduring friendship between our two Inns.

He was moved and profoundly grateful. What a wonderful, kind and generous act. Whenever John told that story he always added “That’s the Temple. We’re family. We look after each other.” And he was right.

We all know that Middle Temple took a battering last year with the death of our beloved Treasurer Paul Darling KC in August, and then in December the Inn’s long serving staff member, John Morrissey died suddenly, barely a week after his retirement party. Sobering time for us all. Also, a time for great reflection. When preparing to speak this evening it seemed right to tell this story. Some of you will know it already. It bears repetition and I hope Inner Temple Benchers will not mind too much

John was one of the warmest and sunniest men you could ever meet. As you came through the door he greeted you as if there was no one he would rather see in that moment than you. He would call you by your name. I happen to know that when the Under Treasurer came into the Inn every morning he would say “Now then young Christopher” – cheered the Under Treasurer up no end – every day. We all loved John and he loved us. Some years ago, when John was in his early 60s he was on his way into work at about 6.30am in the morning. As he was about to leave his home station for the Temple he was set upon by four violent young men. Having dealt him several blows they lifted him up and smashed him against a wall. Keeping his hands up, they removed from his wrist his treasured gold watch. Then threw him to the ground and made their escape. John collected himself. The police were called. They took his details and suggested he should go home. John would hear none of that and continued to the Temple, to go to work as always. He was in by 7.30am. Quite extraordinary.

What had happened to John spread through the Temple in hours.

The next morning, or perhaps the following day, a distinguished Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple came to see John in Middle Temple. She asked how he was, and he told her he was recovering very well. She then handed him a box and opened it. She brought out a watch. As told by John, she said “This was my husband’s watch. He doesn’t need it anymore and I’d like you to have it.” John, unusually for him, was speechless. He was moved and profoundly grateful. What a wonderful, kind and generous act. Whenever John told that story he always added “That’s the Temple. We’re family. We look after each other.” And he was right.

As between individuals – a watch of great personal significance. As between the institutions, all hands on deck and the use of a hall when the electricity blew. Ours is true deep and enduring amity.

Middle Templars, I invite you all to stand to thank and toast our hosts and friends at the Inner Temple.

The Right Honourable Lady Justice Thirlwall
Middle Temple Treasurer 2025