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Celebrating Women Silks – Patricia Galloway Coles

This year marks 75 years since women first became King’s Counsel (KC). It was in 1949, during the reign of King George VI, that barristers Rose Heilbron and Helena Normanton became the first women to ‘take silk’ in England and Wales.

Helena Normanton was the first woman to join Middle Temple in December 1919, after the passing of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act. Rose Heilbron joined Gray’s Inn in 1936, and was the youngest KC appointed since 1783.

Black and white photograph of Rose Heilbron wearing her full judicial wig.
Black and white photograph of Helena Normanton in judicial full wig.
© National Portrait Gallery, London Dame Rose Heilbron by Elliott & Fry bromide print, 1949
© National Portrait Gallery, London Helena Florence Normanton by Elliott & Fry bromide print, 1949

This year also marks 50 years since the first woman at Lincoln’s Inn took Silk. In 1974 Patricia Galloway Coles became Queen’s Counsel, and despite the passing of 25 years, she was only the seventh woman to have been appointed.

Patricia Galloway Coles had been admitted to Lincoln’s Inn on 19 October 1948. Her admission entry reads ‘Patricia Galloway Coles of Edinburgh University and of Heathbourne House, Bushey Heath, Herts, aged 23 the daughter of W. T. Coles of Heathbourne House aforesaid, Member of Lloyds.’

Admission entry for Patricia Coles in the Lincoln's Inn admission register
Admission entry of Patricia Galloway Coles to Lincoln's Inn, 19 October 1948

After completing her terms at the Inn, she was Called to the Bar on 6 June 1951, as shown by her signature in the Bar Book in the archive.

Patricia Coles' signature in the Bar book from the archive.
Patricia Coles' signature in the Inn's Bar Book, 6 June 1951

The archive does not contain much detail about Patricia Coles beyond these entries. A quick search for information in common reference works does not turn up further particulars about her career but, fortunately, references to her do appear in newspaper archives.

In the Sunday Telegraph from 21 December 1975, a feature on Patricia Coles was included in celebration of her appointment as a circuit judge. The article offers insight into her life and career and we are told that she had practised on the South East Circuit until she was elevated to the Bench. The piece makes it apparent how much she valued her anonymity. “I like to have a quiet life at home and none of my neighbours knew that I was at the Bar. I want things to continue that way”, she told the journalist interviewing her. As a result, when she was made QC, she turned down the chance to appear in Who’s Who, and she recalled how she, ‘tore up the papers and threw them in the waste paper basket.’

Despite the article rather unnecessarily assuring the reader that Patricia Coles is, ‘still managing to look attractive as well as dignified beneath her full bottomed wig for legal ceremonial’, this congratulatory piece makes clear that Patricia Coles’ achievement was not to be overlooked. It was only in 1962 that Dame Elizabeth Lane had been appointed the first female judge in the County Court. In turn when Patricia Coles was made a circuit judge in 1975, she was only the seventh female judge. The article observes that ‘with a total of more than 70 judges on the High Court bench and another 250 circuit judges serving the county and crown courts, the proportion of women judges to men is scarcely a cause for complacency.’

Fortunately progress has been made since the article was written and this was highlighted at an event held to mark the 75 year anniversary of the first women Silks. Over 350 women KCs and judges attended the celebration at the Royal Courts of Justice on 30 September 2024.

Colour photograph showing the attendees of the 75 years celebration at the Royal Courts of Justice. It is taken from overhead looking down.
Credit: Marcus Jamieson-Pond/ Next 100 Years (with kind permission)

At the event Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr referred to the progress made in diversity since the first women silks were appointed. She observed that as of 1 April 2024, ‘40% of barristers and 43% of judges were female. It is of note that in the 50 years from 1949 – 1998, just under 100 (96) women silks were appointed; in the following 25 years, 545 women silks were appointed, over five times that figure in half the time. I was delighted to preside over the silk ceremony earlier this year with the number of women applicants in 2023 at a record high of 78 and 38% of those appointed to silk being female.’ Despite these rising figures, the journey to parity continues and Baroness Carr warned in her speech at the event, ‘So, great progress – but no room for complacency.’

You can learn more about the anniversary event on the the Bar Council website and for more information about the work of the Next 100 Years campaign and their previous project First 100 Years see the Next 100 Years website.

You can also listen to episodes of the Listening Inn podcast where Lincoln’s Inn members Elspeth Talbot Rice KC (Episode 3) and Her Honour Judge Whitehouse KC (Episode 5) are interviewed about their careers, including their work as Silks.