22 January 2019
As we approach our 70th birthday, we look at where Simcocks Advocates started.
Alfred Howard Simcocks was born on 20 December 1915 at the Rushen Abbey Hotel, Ballasalla. He was educated at the Buchan School Kindergarten and King William’s College.
Howard was halfway through his accountancy articles in 1939 when he volunteered to enlist in the Manx Regiment. He served in the desert and was blinded in May 1944 at the Battle of Monte Cassino, Italy. When he returned to the Island he knew that he wouldn’t be able to continue with accountancy. He was encouraged to become a law student by retired Attorney General, Ramsey Moore.
Howard was admitted to the Manx Bar in August 1948, having dictated his exam answers to a clerk in the Rolls office. Helen Kinvig became his secretary and was to be his eyes and ears for the rest of his working life. In the 1950s Howard acquired a tandem and Miss Kinvig used to “drive” him to the Castletown office from Ballasalla and back.
On 7 February 1949 Howard formed Lay Allen and Simcocks with fellow advocate Stanley Allen. This firm later became Simcocks Advocates, where he practised law until his retirement in 1990 to Winchester.
Howard was an incredibly active member of the Island community, singing with the Abbey Choir in Ballasalla, acting as a church council member, serving on the Malew Parish Commissioners, as a Member of the House of Keys and a Member of the Legislative Council, as well as sitting on several boards. He was also an active member of the Royal British Legion and was awarded an MBE.
He died in 1995 and his ashes are buried in Malew Parish Church yard.