The College is deeply saddened to report the death of The Rt Hon the Lord Etherton (m.1969), Corpus alumnus, member of the House of Lords, former Master of the Rolls and Chancellor of the High Court. Terry Etherton had been an Honorary Fellow of the College since 2007. 

Terry had a distinguished legal career. He was called to the bar in 1974 and became a Queen's Counsel in 1990. He was Chancellor of the High Court from 2013–16 and Master of the Rolls from 2016–21. He played an active part in the House of Lords, to which he was appointed on his retirement. Last year, he was made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire for services to LGBT veterans. 

Writing on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website, the Rt Hon the Baroness Carr, Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, said, "Lord Etherton was an inspiring judge and leader, with a passionate commitment to access to justice, and a true friend to many of us."

Following the introduction of tuition fees in 1998, Terry and other lawyer alumni set up the Nicholas Bacon Fund, primarily to alleviate financial hardship for those studying or wishing to study law at Corpus. The Nicholas Bacon Law Society was set up in 1971, and Terry became Chairman in 1972. The Master, Professor Christopher Kelly, said, "Terry was a firm and generous friend of the College and a regular (and most convivial) presence at feasts and at the annual Nicholas Bacon Law Society Dinner."

In 2024, Terry was named one of Cambridge University's Q100, which recognises the achievements of LGBT+ alumni. As the first openly gay senior judge, he said he wished to "live a totally open and honest life as a gay man in a court setting". Terry is survived by his husband, Andrew Stone. The couple had been together for 47 years and were married in 2014. 

The funeral service will take place on Sunday 11 May at 09.45 Hoop Lane Jewish Cemetery, Golders Green, London NW11. Evening prayers will be held at 19.30 at West London Synagogue, 34 Upper Berkeley Street, London W1H 5QE. There will be a memorial service in London to honour Terry’s life and achievements later in the year. 

As a mark of respect, the College armorial is flying at half-mast on Thursday 8 May (if you would like a link to a livestream of the prayers, send us an email request).

A full obituary and tributes will be published in the 2025 edition of The Record.