Leaving the Arena

Sir David Keene was educated at Hampton Grammar School and Balliol College, Oxford, where he took a first in Law, before being called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1964. As a barrister, he specialised in planning and public law. In 1974 he fought both that year’s General Elections as a Labour candidate. In his legal career, he progressed to becoming a QC, in which capacity he obtained planning permission for London City Airport and Blue Water Park shopping centre and subsequently was appointed as a judge of the High Court and then of the Court of Appeal. He is an Honorary Fellow of Balliol.

Chapter 1. In the Beginning
Chapter 2. Oxford
Chapter 3. An American Interlude
Chapter 4. Bar Pupillage, and Marriage
Chapter 5. Life at the Bar: Early Days
Chapter 6. Family and Politics
Chapter 7. into Silk
Chapter 8. The Bench Full-Time
Chapter 9. France - and the Blairs
Chapter 10. To the Court of Appeal
Chapter 11. The Home Straight