Elizabeth Christie – 28/11/1936 – 23/04/2020
Elizabeth Mary Steel was born on the 28th November 1936 the older of the two daughters of His Honour Judge Edward Steel. Liz, as she was known to all, was joined by a younger sister, Heather in the summer of 1940. The family lived in the country village of Walton near Warrington. She was educated at Howells School in Denbigh North Wales.
On leaving school in 1955 Liz read law at Liverpool University. It was a sign of the times that there were only 5 women on the course. On obtaining her degree Liz began articles to become a solicitor with Percy Hughes & Roberts. On completing her articles in 1960 she was admitted as a solicitor and began a career in the law that lasted for almost 50 years. She remained with the firm as an assistant solicitor. In 1964 I first met Liz when I started my articles at the firm. She had a practice that included both civil and family work with a sprinkling of crime. I have fond memories of her and of carrying her files round to the County Court each day. She was vivacious, intelligent and fun to be with.
In 1964 Liz was already active in politics and became National Chair of the Young Conservatives. Quite a few of those now referred to as “Tory Grandees” dated her in their younger days and it was not unusual to answer the phone to some up and coming young politician looking for Liz and not simply to discuss politics. With her typical energy and enthusiasm she managed her developing practice with meetings all over the country, papers to write and endless correspondence.
In 1997 Liz joined John A Behn Twyford and Reece. She became a partner in the firm and quickly immersed herself into the sort of legal problems that concerned the Trade Unions for whom the firm were solicitors. Initially much of that was personal injury work and employment law but soon her interest turned to work in Equal Opportunities. She became known nationally for her work on Equal Opportunities and Race Relations legislation. From 1970 until 1978 Liz was a member of the Race Relations Board and was involved in the first case of Harassment and Unfair Dismissal under the new Sex Discrimination Act 1975. In 1980 she became a partner in the city centre firm of Cuff Roberts & Co, where her work on sex and race discrimination continued.
She was the obvious choice to Chair the Steering Committee of the Hillsborough Solicitors Group in 1989 bringing together the solicitors acting for victims of that dreadful disaster in coordinated action. Discretion, tact, understanding, compassion and the ability to inspire the confidence of others were all qualities that Liz had in abundance.
Liz pursued the interests and advanced the views of other solicitors in the Mersey Region serving on the Committee of Liverpool Law Society, the oldest such Society in England and Wales, for many Years and was President in 1989/1990 at which time, of course she was deeply involved in many other things.
Liz was appointed a Recorder in 1989 and progressed to become a Circuit Judge in November 1991. She began sitting in Manchester and Bolton dealing with civil, family and criminal work before transferring back home to Liverpool where she sat in Criminal and Family Courts. As a Circuit Judge Liz was patient and meticulous. Every case that came before her, whether large or small, was treated with great care and compassion.
Liz’s lifelong love of the Arts and Drama was reflected in her roles as a member of the General Advisory Council of the BBC and then as Chair of its North West Regional Advisory Council. She was a Board Member of The Liverpool Playhouse for over 30 years and in 2008 became a Trustee of the Royal Court Liverpool Trust overseeing the ambitious £11.9 million pound capital campaign to renovate the Royal Court Theatre. Liz was an active member of the English Speaking Union. In 2006 she became President of the Liverpool and Merseyside English Speaking Union playing a full part in that organisation and hosting an annual fund raising Garden Party at her home.
Liz’s local community meant a great deal to her and she served Liverpool and Merseyside in many ways. She was a Proprietor of the Athenaeum for many years. Her’s was a friendly face around the Club with a kind word for everyone. She became the first Lady President in 2002 and had a very successful presidential year enjoyed by all. Right up to the early summer of 2019 she visited as often as you could. She was a non executive member of the Liverpool University Hospital Trust and a Trustee of the Liverpool Cathedral Centenary Trust established to ensure the future of the Cathedral and its mission in the city. Liz’s contribution to the life and work of the City of Liverpool was recognised by conferment of an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws by Liverpool University in 2007. Her commitment to Higher Education in Liverpool was reflected in her support of the John Moores University for more than 35 years with over 11 years as a Governor and over 5 years as Deputy Chair of the Governing Body’. In recognition of her contribution to that University’s ethos “to dream, plan and achieve’ she was awarded an Honorary Fellowship in 2013. It is hardly surprising that she was appointed a Deputy Lord Lieutenent of Merseyside.
Liz and her family lived in Cressington Park, South Liverpool. When I made some enquiries of a friend and neighbour I was told that “Cressington Park had lost a force of nature. Liz’s first instinct was to smile on seeing you. Then to ask after your health and invite you to a social occasion. She would ask why you were not present at the previous nights social occasion and then to tell you who was there. Was there ever a more sociable person? Quite exhausting to keep up with her and her heart of gold”. She was thought by all to be a lovely person who made a huge contribution to any activity with which she became involved.
Liz was very happily married to Stuart Christie for almost 40 years. She devoted herself to supporting him when he was High Sheriff of Merseyside in 2004. She leaves 2 children and 4 grandchildren.
Our thanks to HH David Swift for providing obituary