SOLICITORS Batt Broadbent of Salisbury have welcomed a new consultant who is very familiar to the firm.

John Batt, who was a catalyst to the founding of the firm in 1967, has been a partner of a firm in Wimbledon for many years, specialising in commercial property and, more recently, miscarriages of justice.

His return to Batt Broadbent was marked with a reception in his honour at Salisbury Arts Centre earlier this month.

Senior partner, Andrew Johnson, said: "We know the Batt in Batt Broadbent matters as a link to the history of Salisbury.

"John really is a Salisbury person, even though he has not lived here for some years and he reinforces our commitment to service."

Mr Batt, 78, who is married with three children and three grandchildren, said the new role was about "coming back to my roots".

"I grew up in Salisbury and went to the Cathedral School where I was a chorister," he said.

"My father, Freddie, and uncle, Harold, were mayors of Salisbury." Mr Batt was articled to Leo Lush of Salisbury firm Whitehead, Vizard, Venn and Lush (now Whitehead Vizard), before being called up for National Service, acting as a prosecutor in courts martial for 18 months.

When he left the Army, he joined a firm of solicitors, becoming partner in charge of its Wimbledon office, and later a consultant.

He was with the firm for 50 years before it closed in September.

Aside from his legal career, he co-created and wrote the series The Main Chance, about a firm of solicitors, and Justice, starring Margaret Lockwood. He wrote the book, Let's Make It Legal, and TV themes, including the signature tune for ITN.

In 1964 he was fighting a planning appeal in Winchester and his opponent was Robert Beecroft.

"I asked him to leave the council and open an office in Salisbury, and he said yes'," said Mr Batt.

"That is how Batt, Broadbent and Beecroft was formed.

"I was involved at the beginning and when something came up within my speciality."

It was the wrongful conviction of Sally Clark, daughter of his friend and former Salisbury police chief, Frank Lockyer, for the murder of her two baby sons which set him on a new path - that of righting miscarriages of justice.

"Most of my time is taken up with helping people who are falsely accused of offences relating to babies," he said.

"I could never retire."

  • A fuller version of this interview will appear in the next issue of Journal Business magazine, published in January.