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Rather than pay homage to the departing Head of the Parole Board, I would simply like to express my astonishment at Professor Nick Hardwick's career path, and humbly suggest that putting someone of his qualifications and liberal tendencies in charge of the Parole Board is somewhat typical of an administration whose competence is sometimes questionable, particularly with regards to decision-making. His very tenure is indicative of an institution which is badly in need of reform, and his leadership unlikely to challenge the status quo. So therefore, although Professor Hardwick may be a man of some honour and integrity, he is also one who clearly has unrivalled contacts and friends in the right places and knows how to place himself and conduct himself well. His career is a model example in how to become a lawyer without the need for qualifying and to then work in the law at the heart of justice.

After gaining his only academic qualification, a third class degree in English Literature from the University of Hull, (his other degrees are honorary), Hardwick worked in the charities sector and a number of similar roles before being appointed Head of the IPCC, followed by his role as Inspector of Prisons. Meantime, he was appointed a Master of the Bench of the Middle Temple, which is normally reserved for suitably qualified lawyers or at the very least, to those who possess law degrees. When he left the latter two years ago, he was appointed a Professor at the School of Law of the Royal Holloway University. Then, continuing his remarkable success story, he was appointed Head of the Parole Board, where of course, despite being head, he was not responsible for any of its failings and was indeed a shining beacon of the model justice warrior. Clearly, his legal skills are so strong that he has in effect singularly side-stepped the normal qualifying process, although one cannot help noting that it is a shame that he didn't study for a law degree in his spare time. However, evidently his skills are so great that he is not subject to the normal requirements that the rest of us are. Bearing in mind, however, that this is his third high profile departure in ten years, surely the law students of the Royal Holloway University have a number of personally delivered lectures to look forward to from their somewhat avant guarde Professor.

Lest I be criticised for this comment, I should point out that no-one is giving me jobs without any qualifications, nor is anyone that I know.