Alistair Watson Bell

His Honour Alistair Watson Bell (31 March 1930 – 2 August 2012), was a British Circuit judge and Liberal Party politician.

Background

Bell was born in Edinburgh, only son of Albert William Bell and Alice Elizabeth Watson. He was educated at Lanark Grammar School, George Watson's College and the Universities of Edinburgh (MA) and Wadham College, Oxford[1] (MA, BCL). In 1957 he married Patricia Margaret Seed. They had two daughters and a son.[2]

Professional career

Bell served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps in 1955. In 1955 he received a Call to the bar, by Middle Temple. He entered practice on the Northern Circuit in 1957. He was a Recorder of the Crown Court from 1972–78 and Honorary Recorder at Carlisle from 1990–98. He served as a Circuit Judge from 1978–97.[3]

Political career

Bell was Liberal candidate for the Chorley division of Lancashire at the 1964 General Election. He was then Liberal candidate for the Westmorland division at the 1966 General Election. He did not stand for parliament again.[4]

Electoral record

General Election 1964: Chorley [5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labour Clifford Kenyon 24,710 48.4 −2.3
Conservative John Harold Vick Sutcliffe 20,997 41.1 −8.2
Liberal Alistair Watson Bell 5,331 10.5 N/A
Majority 3,713 7.3 +6.0
Turnout 51,038 84.6 −1.1
Labour hold Swing +3.0
General Election 1966: Westmorland [6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Conservative Thomas Michael Jopling 17,907 50.5 -1.2
Liberal Alistair Watson Bell 9,052 25.6 -4.4
Labour John E Dayton 8,465 23.9 +5.6
Majority 8,855 24.9 +3.2
Turnout 75.5 -3.3
Conservative hold Swing +1.6

References

  1. ↑ The Times House of Commons, 1964
  2. ↑ ‘BELL, His Honour Alistair Watson’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2015; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 18 Aug 2015
  3. ↑ ‘BELL, His Honour Alistair Watson’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2015; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014 ; online edn, April 2014 accessed 18 Aug 2015
  4. ↑ British parliamentary election results 1950-1983, Craig, F.W.S.
  5. ↑ British parliamentary election results 1950-1973, Craig, F.W.S.
  6. ↑ British parliamentary election results 1950-1973, Craig, F.W.S.
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