“See, this Dr Avery fellow says the only reason he confessed was because you were framing him. You didn’t wear gloves, so your prints are on the murder weapon you say you found. And you’ve just finished telling me how you snuck into his bedroom, a fact I now have to disclose to the defence.”

“You chaps have a warrant for any of this? No? Well first things first we’re going to have to section 30 in literally everything you just told me.”

I had to apply for permission to give evidence early in a trial because I was going on my honeymoon. He granted it (“Her honeymoon will be a seminal event in the life of Miss Franks”) but the defendant then fell over

This is sounding like a eulogy now, but what made him a great first instance judge was a willingness to call it like he sees it, and an exceptional instinctive ability to see "it" correctly. You can be a pretty good judge with one of those qualities. He had both in spades.

Appearances before him were like polar plunges. You probably couldn't call them enjoyable but you got the sense they were good for you in the long term.

One time I finished my submissions to him and he told me "Well, I don't think you're getting home on this one, counsel".

This reads like something I should have written.

One data point for you: I asked my much more talented wife (who grew up in China and is fluent) and she says she hasn’t heard it before. A place as big as China has a lot of idioms though…

Thanks so much!