REPORT: THE INNER TEMPLE DEBATING SOCIETY THIS HOUSE HAS HISTORY – 65TH ANNIVERSARY DEBATE AND DINNER

The Inner Temple Debating Society has a proud and distinguished history. It was founded in April 1961 by Sir Ivan Lawrence KC (first Chair) and His Honour Judge Roger Sanders (first ITDS Secretary), who were both Inner Temple students at the time.

The spirit of those early days was captured by Roger Sanders in an article he penned for the 1995 Inner Temple Yearbook about the founding of the Society, from which the extract below is taken:

“The support was rapid and overwhelming. Ivan Lawrence joined me and we formed a founding committee, with himself acting as Chairman and with me acting as Secretary. We obtained the Benchers’ blessing and the services of the young Jean Morris, who had our first letterhead made and who did all the typing and copying of leaflets and posters at the Inn’s expense. Through her kind permission, we were permitted to use the Niblett Hall for our meetings and debates.
By April 1961, the Society was fully launched. We held debates on every topic of the day, including Capital Punishment and the Common Market. Practising barristers and Benchers were as numerous as the many students that attended.
I still remember all the students with whom I used to spar in debate, and many of them have become my colleagues, judges and lifelong friends.”

It is thanks to those early pioneers that The Inner Temple Debating Society was able to mark a significant milestone this year with its 65th Anniversary Debate and Dinner, held on Friday 24 April 2026, with both Sir Ivan and Roger Sanders in attendance (pictured).

The evening brought together alumni, current members, two former Master Treasurers, the Reader-Elect and supporters from across generations of the Society, reflecting its long-standing contribution to advocacy, public speaking and the development of future members of the Bar.

For over six decades, the ITDS has provided a forum for rigorous debate and intellectual exchange. Through its doors, many students destined to become legal luminaries have passed, including many would-be KCs, judges, Masters of the Bench and politicians. Former committee and other members have included Sir Robert Buckland, a previous Lord Chancellor; Her Excellency Joanna Korner, Judge of the International Criminal Court; Dame Theresa Villiers, former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; and television’s Rob Rinder.
Since its foundation, the Society has evolved into a vibrant and inclusive community. From its earliest debates addressing issues such as the role of women at the Bar and broader societal change to its present-day activities, the Society has consistently engaged with topics of importance and controversy.

The anniversary event commenced with a show debate in the Parliament Chamber, with the motion ‘This House Would Turn Back Time’. The audience were treated to a humorous and engaging to-and-fro, capturing the spirit of the occasion by reflecting on the evolution of the Society and the past 65 years.

The debate featured a distinguished panel drawn from across the Society’s history, including:

• Sir Ivan Lawrence KC (founding member)
• Henry Clement-Jones (current President of the Society)
• Jessica Fitzpatrick (former Vice President)
• Oliver May (former President)

A central strength of the event was its success in bringing together multiple generations of Inner Temple Debaters. Structured in the British Parliamentary format, the debate combined intellectual rigour with a deliberately accessible and engaging style. In so doing, it successfully demonstrated the enduring strength of the Society’s core purpose: developing confident, articulate advocates capable of engaging with complex issues in a persuasive and thoughtful manner. And for the record, while it was a close-run thing, the motion was defeated.

Following the debate, guests gathered in the Luncheon Room for a drinks reception and dinner, which, as is typical for The Inner Temple, provided a warm and convivial setting for alumni and current members to reconnect. The evening was enhanced by speeches delivered by senior figures closely associated with the Society, reflecting on ITDS’s history and achievements.

The Anniversary Debate and Dinner stood as a fitting tribute to its past and a confident statement of its future. The tone of the evening was celebratory and reflective. It reinforced the Society’s reputation as a cornerstone of The Inner Temple’s educational and collegiate life and as a lasting source of inspiration, opportunity and friendship for those who pass through it.

My thanks to those who took part, our current Presidents and committee, and all in the Education and Training Office and the Catering Department who helped make the evening such a success.

Master Sutherland Williams
Mark Sutherland Williams is the current Master of The Inner Temple Debating Society and was the 1994–5 Chair of the Society.
For more information on the current Inner Temple Debating Society, please visit: innertemple.org.uk/membership-services-support/societies/student-societies/debating-society