He was head of the civil courts ("Master of the Rolls"), then head of the criminal courts ("Lord Chief Justice"), then the most senior role of all -- with the enviable title of "Senior Law Lord" (the last to hold that role before the creation of the new Supreme Court, which he negotiated with Government). Throughout his career he fiercely resisted attempts by the Executive to interfere with judicial power: to him, the independence of judges was the bedrock of civil rights.
After his retirement he wrote an important book which is also delightfully easy for non-lawyers to read. And he gave his opinion that the war in Iraq was unlawful.
He was renowned for his sense of humour, so I hope he would have got pleasure appearing among the trains and cocks of Reciprocating Motion.
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