Former solicitor dies at 89 (From Salisbury Journal)
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Former solicitor dies at 89
7:00am Wednesday 16th January 2013 in News
Eric Legat
A SOLICITOR who was with a Salisbury firm for 40 years has died at the age of 89.
Eric Hugh Legat joined Wilson’s solicitors in March 1952 as an assistant solicitor and became a partner a year later.
He specialised in ecclesiastical law and held the position of secretary to the diocesan board of finance during most of his time with the firm, from which he retired in 1992.
Mr Legat was also well known in the community, being a Friend of Salisbury Cathedral for more than 50 years and a member of the Guild of Stewards. He belonged to the Rotary and Round Table, and the Blue Peter Yacht Club, which he joined in its founding year.
Mr Legat was born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1923, and moved to England with his family in 1933, being schooled in Guildford before going on to Radley College, Oxford. He served with the Royal Navy for six months in 1941 and then with the Coastal Forces.
He was married Jane at Salisbury Cathedral in 1964, and the couple had three daughters, Trisha, Tiggy and Jo.
The family settled in Whiteparish in 1975 where Mr Legat served as a churchwarden for 14 years, as well as being on the Parochial Church Council, the Deanery Synod and an active member and chairman of the local Royal British Legion branch.
He was also chairman of the local Conservative branch. Following his retirement he spent 20 years increasing his knowledge of painting, history, nature and his own heritage, and enjoying holidays with his family.
Mrs Legat said: “Family life was what he worked and lived for, giving them all a strong foundation and guidelines to build on. “His family were his pride and joy, his friends, his inspiration and interest.”
