We were sad to learn of the death of our author John Hosking. John combined an illustrious career in business with long service as a justice of the peace, rising to become chair of the nationwide Magistrates’ Association from 1987 to 1990. Along the way he rose to international acclaim in business as well as becoming a life vice-president of the Kent branch of the MA where he served with and chaired the Ashford bench. He also acted as a Deputy Lord Lieutenant in that county and was awarded the CBE in 1990 for services to the magistracy.
In 2020 we published his lifetime treatise, Our Magistracy: A Democratic Jewel Without Price, which attracted supportive reviews as well as much debate. ‘Excellent,’ ‘Compelling’ and ‘A number of books have been written about the magistracy… but none as good as this one….’ are just a snapshot of the reviews. I worked alongside John at times with the MA and remember his good company and wise counsel. I particularly recall his sense of direction as key nationwide initiatives were introduced, including the very first Sentencing Guidelines for Magistrates which were created with him at the helm. His perpetual defence of the role of JPs as ordinary people who for hundreds of years have brought common sense to bear was unshakable.
For decades John travelled extensively in Europe and beyond promoting his company’s work and advising overseas governments, notably across the USA, where he was praised as ‘an outstanding British representative,’ Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Israel, Bulgaria, and Poland. Fluent in French and German, he chaired international meetings and presided over the annual European Agricultural Outlook Conference in London for 15 years. He retired as chair of Agra Europe in 1994, following which he edited the CAP Monitor for 17 years. Internationally astute from such activities, among his wider judicial roles he represented the English magistracy at the gathering of Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges in Ottawa in 1988 and addressed the Magistrados Judiciais (National Congress of Portuguese Judges) in Evora in 1990.
Educated at Marlborough and London University, John was a benefactor of the Law School at the University of Kent at Canterbury, and was a governor of Ashford School, including as chair of its Council, when he led the school’s merger with United Learning in 1999.
John’s other contributions to the justice system included his involvements with the Kent Police Authority, Kent Magistrates’ Courts Committee (which he chaired from 1984 to 88), Advisory Committee on Appointment of JPs, Home Office Committee on Recording of Police Interviews, Senate of Inns of Court and Bar Disciplinary Tribunal and of Bar Council’s Professional Conduct Committee. He was a member of the Council of Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association, Lord Chief Justice’s Working Party on Mode of Trial Guidelines, and Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct.
John Hosking lived in Charing, Kent where he was equally adept playing cricket, hockey and dealing with the minutiae of village life such as gardening, local history, and the church. Happily married for 64 years, he survived his wife Joan (d. 2017) and is in turn survived by their two sons; one a chartered surveyor, the other an army officer.