Peter Penlington

Penlington was born in Christchurch on 13 December 1932. His parents were Spenser Penlington and Marjorie Ethel Penlington (née Frostick).^[1] His great-grandfather, William Penlington, was mayor of Akaroa in the 1880s.^[2] He received his education at St Albans Primary School, Christ's College (1946–1950), and the University of Canterbury. He graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1956 and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor the same year.^[1][3]

Penlington married Gillian Beatrix Ramsden in 1960. They had two sons and one daughter.^[1] Ross Penlington (1931–2001), who was a Court of Appeal Judge in Hong Kong, was a second cousin.^[1]

Penlington started work as a clerk for R. A. Young Hunter & Co in 1951. In the following year, he moved to Wynn Williams & Co as a law clerk. In 1957, he returned to R. A. Young Hunter & Co, becoming a partner in 1959. He left in 1977 to set up his own practice.^[4] In 1990, he was appointed judge of the High Court.^[1]

He held membership of the prosecutors panel from 1968 to 1990. In 1974/75, he was president of the Law Society's Canterbury district. He served on the national council of the Law Society from 1972 to 1974.^[1]

From 1956 to 1962, Penlington was with the Territorial Force and attained the rank of lieutenant. From 1968 to 1983, he was judge-advocate. From 1983 to 1990, he served as judge of the court-martial appeal court.^[1]

Together with Judge Anthony Willy, Penlington published the legal textbook Penlington and Willy High Court forms in 1985.^[1]

In his latter years, Penlington lived at a retirement village in the Christchurch suburb of Russley, and he died there on 31 January 2025, at the age of 92.^[5]