It is with great sadness that we report the death of Master Benson on Saturday 4 November 2023, aged 77. The Inn’s flag flew at half-mast on Wednesday 8 November in his memory.

Master Benson was called to the Bar in 1974. He practised from chambers in London and Birmingham specialising in defending criminal cases, particularly murder, manslaughter, serious sexual offences, and fraud. He took Silk in 1995 and sat as a Recorder of the Crown Court from 1995 until his retirement in 2018. He was a Visiting Fellow of Oxford Brookes University where, pro bono, he lectured and conducted workshops in criminal evidence in addition to delivering advocacy training and providing mentoring for students.

Master Benson was elected as a Bencher of the Inn in 2013. He served as Assistant Master of the Midland Circuit for several years and was very involved in supporting circuit activities.