His Honour Adrian Smith

We are sorry to report that His Honour Adrian Smith, a Member since 1970 has sadly passed age 75.

Below is lovely piece written by Samantha Hillas KC and circulated on the Northern circuit.

Dear all

It was with great sadness that I learned this weekend of the death of His Honour Adrian Smith.

A proud northerner, Adrian was born and grew up in Burnley and then Blackpool. At a Lincoln’s Inn dinner as a young student and upon expressing a desire to practise in crime, he was put in touch with 54 (later 14) Castle Street in Liverpool. He started pupillage there under Donald Forster in 1973. He remained in that set at the criminal bar throughout his career, becoming pupil master to HHJ Stuart Driver KC and, later, Head of Chambers. I am told by those who knew him in practice that as a barrister, he was always fair, calm and understated to devastating effect.

One of the youngest appointments at that time, in 1996 at the age of 46 he was appointed to the Circuit Bench. Having been widowed far too early following the death of his wife Sallie in 1994, his appointment presented an opportunity to move to Manchester. Whilst he loved Liverpool, where he and Sallie raised their daughters Sophie and Olivia and made so many friends, Manchester became his much loved home for the next 30 years of his life. Adrian sat for 19 years at Minshull Street Crown Court and as a Mental Health Review Chairman in his retirement. As in practice, he was known as a fair, calm tribunal and it was a pleasure to appear before him. Not only an esteemed barrister and judge, Adrian was a witty and utterly charming dinner companion for those lucky enough to be seated next to him at mess.

His daughter Sophie followed in her father’s footsteps and is much loved member of our Circuit family, now practising at Hundred Court in Liverpool. She told me that her lovely dad bore his recent and sudden terminal cancer diagnosis with huge strength. His hallmark common sense approach and dry wit carried his adoring family through. He told Sophie when he was diagnosed that he had a feeling he would make it to the end of January. His words were prophetic. He died peacefully and surrounded by love on the evening of Saturday 31 January 2026 aged 75.

He said last week when talking of his family that “we were a happy but modest family. My mum was a dinner lady and my dad a butcher. Now I’m leaving a family of lawyers behind. That’s not bad for a little lad from Burnley”.

His death is a huge loss for Circuit. All those I have spoken to have echoed Sophie’s words: he was simply “lovely”.

The Circuit extends condolences and love to Sophie, Olivia and the rest of Adrian’s family.

Regards
Sam