John Mortimer Speech

Five page speech given by John Mortimer in response from those awarded an honorary doctorate from the University on 18 July 1986.

John Mortimer was born in Hampstead, London, and educated at Harrow and Brasenose College Oxford. He did not serve in the 2nd World War as he was unfit for service, and worked instead for the Crown Film Unit, in which he worked his way into the position of scriptwriter. He was called to the bar in 1948 and became QC in 1966, and Master of the Bench, Inner Temple, in 1975. His first novel, Charade, written during the war and later resuscitated, was published in 1957; many plays, short-stories and novels have followed, along with autobiographical and biographical volumes. He is best known for his Rumpole of the Bailey character, who first made an appearance in print in 1978. He was made a CBE in 1986 and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Exeter in the same year.

Usual EUL arrangements apply

The speech was given by John Mortimer to the University and was deposited in the University Library in September 1986.

Usual EUL arrangements apply