Excellent news in Liverpool where Obiter is thrilled to see that James Benson has been elected president of the local law society.

Veteran Obiter watchers may recall Mr Benson's spell as editor of the society's magazine, in which he would indulge in many flights of fancy, such as dreaming of singing bail applications to the tune of 'I'm going to wash that man right out of my hair'.

He gave the impression that it was life as a criminal legal aid solicitor that led him to seek solace in the absurd and now we have a year of presidential columns to look forward to.

Perhaps our favourite Bensonism was when he was subjected to a question and answer session by the Merseyside Young Solicitors Group.

One fairly innocuous question asked what was the first record he ever bought.

'The 100 yards breast-stroke (indoor competition),' he wrote in response.

'I have purchased many other swimming records since, so avoiding unnecessary exposure of my body to water and the tedium of having to constantly dry myself unaided.' But he let his faade slip in response to the question of what he would have been had he not become a lawyer: 'A normal person with a balanced lifestyle and immensely rich had I put the same hours, energy and dedication into something else.'