Tributes paid to country's 'senior court watcher' who died after more than 40 years of sitting in on court cases

Andrew Mollison, 74, died last week after more than 40 years of watching cases from the public gallery at Sheffield Crown Court and in dozens of other courtrooms.

He caught overnight buses and even hitch-hiked around the country to follow judges and lawyers he treated “like family”.

The Honorary Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC, led tributes to the much-loved pensioner as many of the most senior judges and former judges in England and Wales – including Lord Justice Males, Lord Justice Coulson and Mr Justice Baker – joined remotely, along with 113 others.

Retired Judge Michael Murphy QC said in a message read at the special hearing in Sheffield on Friday: “We think that with a record 42 years, Andrew was the longest serving court watcher in the country.

“If anyone should wish to challenge that title, please don’t. We love Andrew and we don’t want any Trumpian challenge to the validity of that title.”

Mr Mollison’s friend Judge Peter Kelson QC told those attending online and socially-distanced in two courtrooms at Sheffield Crown Court how he had known him since he was a young barrister starting out in 1981.

He recalled how Mr Mollison would travel on overnight buses to catch cases at the Court of Appeal in London.

Judge Kelson added that when he was sworn in as a QC at the House of Lords, “who should we see over the railing waving furiously – Andrew, of course”.

He noted eulogies in the crown court are normally reserved for judges and barristers – “highly qualified women and men who wield power and influence within our society”.

But the judge said they had gathered in greater numbers than ever “to remember a humble 74-year-old man” with no qualifications who lived in a council flat in the Parson Cross area of Sheffield.

Judge Kelson told the dozens watching: “How wonderfully appropriate that so many of you are now court watchers.”

He recalled the kindness and friendship Mr Mollison offered to so many in the legal profession, as well to journalists and everyone connected to the court.

He told them: “Andrew was unique, loyal, constant and he was family. He was normality, he was reality, he was honest, he was deeply respectful. He gave generously and only rarely asked for anything.

“Even then it was usually just enough to cover his bus fare home. I think we can agree that if everyone behaved towards each other as Andrew behaved to all who knew him, the world would be a better place.

“It is abundantly clear from the outpouring of sentiments following his death that Andrew was much loved.”

In another message read to the court, High Court judge and former Honorary Recorder of Sheffield, Mr Justice Goose, said: “His presence in these courts, as well as many other courts in England and Wales, has been an almost reassuring feature of the administration of justice.

“Andrew would have been proud of that because it meant that our courts are for the public to watch, including those who make it their life’s work”.

The court heard Mr Mollison was dubbed the UK’s “senior court watcher” by another previous Honorary Recorder of Sheffield.

He is understood to have died from coronary heart disease after testing positive for Covid-19.

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