Anne Castell
1945-2008



Anne Castell had a varied career in the law extending over 35 years. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1974 and, over the next few years, gained experience in the law working for various local solicitors in Essex, where she lived. In 1982, she set up practice in Witham as a sole practitioner.



Her dedication and application built up that practice over the next ten years into a thriving business. In 1992, she sold her practice and worked as a consultant for another Essex firm, while completing a master's degree in European Law. From 1994 to 1997 she was a senior lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University (then Anglia Polytechnic University School of Law), where her years in practice helped her create and drive the Legal Practice Course (LPC) there. This was to be the first in a series of appointments in teaching and training practitioners, which was to be her true vocation for the rest of her life.



From 1997 to 2000 she was National Training Officer for Berrymans Lace Mawer; from 2000 to 2006 she was senior lecturer at the Inns of Court School of Law, helping the LPC there achieve 'excellent' status. Both at Anglia and the Inns of Court School, her personal kindness and encouragement endeared her to her students. In late 2006 she was appointed skills training professional for Lovells just a few days before being diagnosed with cancer.



Anne was involved with many notable and pioneering activities. She was active in the early days of the formation and work of the Association of Women Solicitors. She was a Founder of the National Negotiation Competition for UK Law Students, personally gaining the sponsorship of important backers and spending several years on its board helping to organise, run and judge competitions. She was also a judge of the International Client Counselling Competition. In 2000 she became an accredited CEDR mediator, one of the earliest lawyers to gain this qualification. For eight years she served as a member of employment tribunals and, in 2005, became a notary.



Anne Castell grew up in Downham Market and went to Durham University, taking her degree in Social Studies in 1966. She settled in Essex with her husband, Stephen; for the last 32 years they lived in Wickam Bishops, where they brought up four children. Active in local life, she served as parish councillor, was a founder and an early chairperson of the local tennis club, and was a low-handicap golfer, having represented her university. She died on 2 March, aged 63.



John Scannell