Island Life Magazine Ltd April/May 2014 | Page 13

Practising makes perfect! By Peter White Not many solicitors can suddenly break into song in the native tongue of Gurkha soldiers. And not many solicitors have both defended and prosecuted Japanese Secret Police following crimes committed in the Second World War. But clearly John Gurney-Champion is no ordinary solicitor, especially when you consider he still practises - even though he will reach the grand age of 91 in a few weeks time. “I still find my work interesting, and I shall never retire,” insists John, who lives near Newport with Elizabeth, his wife of 62 years.The couple have six children, 15 grandchildren and one great grandchild. So Island Life caught up with John to get an insight into his remarkable life. He was born in Taunton in 1923, but moved to the Island at the age of three. His father, grandfather and great grandfather were all solici F