Anthony Bruce Ewbank was born on 30 July 1925, the son of Rev. Harold Ewbank and Gwendolen Ewbank (née Bruce).[2] He was educated at St John's School, Leatherhead, before going up to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated in the Natural Sciences Tripos.[2] In 1945 he joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and subsequently contributed to the purchase of a Tiger Moth aircraft with nine other officers, on which he learnt to fly.[1]
Ewbank became a schoolmaster at Stamford School in 1947 before joining the staff of Epsom College in 1950.[2] He was called to the bar at Gray's Inn in 1954, the objective to improve his chance of obtaining a headmastership.[1][2] However, serving his pupillage under Roger Ormrod he decided to practise and, on entering chambers, became a specialist in divorce and probate. He pressed successfully to change the law so that divorced women could receive a share of their former husband’s pension.[1][2]
Ewbank was made Junior Counsel to the Treasury in probate law in 1969, Queen's Counsel in 1972 and a Recorder of the Crown Court between 1975 and 1980.[2] He was Chairman of the Family Law Bar Association between 1978 and 1980.[2] Ewbank was made Knight Bachelor in 1980.[2]
