(Image courtesy of St Paul’s College)
It is with great pride that the Club acknowledges Andrew Bell who will become the 17th Chief Justice of NSW when the current Chief Justice, Thomas Bathurst, steps down on 5 March.
Andrew played for the Club and then the Veterans’ XI during the 1980s and 1990s and has always taken a strong and practical interest in the Club.
He was educated at Sydney Grammar School before going up to the University, resident at St Paul’s College, having captained the SGS 1st XI in 1983.
His academic career at Sydney University was filled with honours: BA, LLB Hons. Two University Medals. When he studied at Oxford University during his Rhodes Scholarship, he won the Vinerian Scholarship in the BCL and was also awarded a doctorate focusing on private international law.
Since returning to Australia, Andrew has practiced as a barrister, is still an Adjunct Professor at Sydney University and was appointed as President of the NSW Court of Appeal in 2019.
Francis Forbes was NSW’s first Chief Justice in 1823 and Andrew follows, 199 years later.
He is only the second Chief Justice of NSW to have represented the Sydney University Cricket Club. HV (Bert) Evatt, who played for the Club before the Great War, was Chief Justice from 1960 until 1962.
The Club joins in saluting one of our most distinguished former players.
By James Rodgers