Table of Contents

1 The beginning 2 My father and his family 3 My grandparents 4 My mother 5 My father’s work 6 My parents together 7 My sister 8 The early years 9 The twenties 10 Clouds 11 Flight 12 Switzerland 13 An interlude – “fast forward” 14 To France 15 Paris – the beginning 16 Lycee Michelet 17 The Fizaines (and others) 18 Paris – the second year 19 To Nice 20 Our parents in London 21 The end of the Lycee de Nice 22 The promised land 23 Aldenham 24 The first year 25 1937 26 1938–1939 27 The final end of Nice 28 The phoney war – Cambridge 29 The real war starts 30 Internment 31 Reactions 32 The Isle of Man 33 Release 34 Another interlude – “fast forward” 35 The Blitz – back to Aldenham – the RAF 36 Air Crew Cadet 37 Wings 38 Learning to teach flying 39 Flying instructor back in Cambridge 40 Twin engines 41 Joining a Wellington crew 42 612 Squadron 43 The war in Europe ends 44 Demobilisation 45 Post-war Cambridge 46 1946 47 1947 48 Michèle 49 Going to the Bar 50 My mother leaves 51 My father’s death 52 A postscript 53 Beginnings at the Bar 54 Marriage, etc 55 My mother in Germany 56 A painful family reunion 57 My mother’s death 58 End of a generation 59 The second half 60 The Junior Bar 61 Silk 62 Some highlights 63 Towards the end of the Bar 64 The Bench? 65 Life as a Judge 66 Separation 67 The Law Commission 68 Diana 69 The Court of Appeal 70 Disappointments 71 A new profession 72 A resurrection

About the Author

Sir Michael Kerr was a leading member of the English bar during the post-war period who became Chairman of the Law Commission and a member of the Court of Appeal.

Reviews

...a thoughtful description of an unusual life an important account of what is was like to be a refugee from persecution who found sanctuary in this country. contain qualities often missing from judicial autobiographies: experience and judgment.
*The Times Law Section*

...he recounts his unusual life story with candour and thoughtfulness
*Times Literary Supplement*

The reader discovers in the pages of this volume a sensitive, yet tough, courageous and determined man. There is frankness in greater measure than many would have wished. I do not think it is too much to describe this book as an inspiration.
*The Times Law Section*