A Tribute to Anthony Redfern

I received some sad news this week- the senior partner of the Firm I trained with had died. Anthony Redfern was probably in his 50s by the time I started my 2 years training at their Gillingham office.

Silver haired, tanned and distinguished looking he was universally popular. It was still with trepidation I had to go and see him for advice in my first month. I was helping cover a conveyancing fee’s earner work and a client was deliberately delaying a completion date despite having exchange for that date. The other solicitors had got very heavy about it, threatening all sorts of punitive actions against the client and our firm. “Ask Anthony for his advice” was the universal opinion of everyone else in the office. Full of nerves I knocked on the door, stumbled in nervously when he boomed “come in”, and I could barely see him across the smoke filled room. I explained the situation. “Mmm” he said thoughtfully “bit tricky.” Another puff on his cigarette whilst he pondered looking out of the window. I waited for the pearls of wisdom. Puff, puff, adding to the yellow ceiling stains by the minute. In the 3 minutes I was in there it felt like I’d passively smoked a packet of 10. “Tell them….” pause, puff , puff. I stood there notebook and pen in hand ready to take down the strategy and cunning of the great man using all of his 30 odd years of experience. “Tell them bollocks but do it with style”. He then left the room. I went back to my desk, pondered the advice and did as I was guided. Worked a treat. RIP Anthony. A man who always did it with style.