Former Judge Paul Watson, Recorder of Hull and East Riding, sadly died in December 2024, shortly after retiring. He was a respected figure.
Judge Watson was working in courts until recently. He even came out of retirement to help. Fellow judges expressed their sadness at the loss, calling him a respected and loved colleague.
He stopped working full-time in February last year. Before that, he judged in Teesside. Even after retiring, he still helped out as a judge on a part-time basis.
Paul was born in Harrogate in 1953. His family was in the Army, and he lived in Cyprus as a child. He went to school in Hampshire. Later, he studied law in Leeds and became a lawyer in 1978.
Paul started working in a court in Sheffield. Later, he joined the Army Legal Corps in 1980, following his family’s path. He met his wife, Sally, in 1978, and they got married in 1980. They had a son, Richard, in 1982.
Paul spent time in Germany when in the Army and was promoted to Major in 1983. He then went to the USA, advising special forces there. He later represented soldiers in court.
A colleague suggested he become a barrister, and he joined a law practice in 1985. He became a top lawyer in 2002 and was proud to be the first from the Army to do so.
He became head of his law practice and helped merge it with another in 2011. This merger was successful, and he was appointed a judge in 2012. He worked in Sheffield, then Hull.
In 2020, he became a senior judge in Teesside. He was happy to serve there and felt proud of his roots in the North East.
Paul enjoyed his legal career very much. His wife said it was also his hobby. People liked him for more than his job; they saw him as a good person. He was funny, kind, and genuine.
He had a great sense of humor, mixing silly jokes with sharp observations. Once, he joked the Army’s motto should be funny.
He said he was trusting, even after tough cases. He believed in giving people a chance and saw people turn their lives around. He liked being a judge in his hometown.
A colleague introduced Paul to sailing, and he sailed often with a friend. Paul was a good sailor, and they traveled far by sea.
Judges said he was a loyal friend who cared about others a lot. He always helped younger lawyers, gave good advice, and offered support. He enjoyed football, sailing, and music, and he loved the law.
He worked hard for his achievements, driving buses early on to pay for his exams. He convinced people to support his goals and co-wrote a book on forensic pathology.
Many people will miss Paul, including his smile and cheerful greetings, and his optimistic attitude. He put care into everything he did. People will miss him greatly. Condolences go to his family and friends.
