Carl Aarvold
English barrister who became Recorder of London, and rugby union footballer
About Carl Aarvold
Lived 1907 – 1991 (aged 83). Carl Aarvold was a British judge, rugby union player and barrister.
Sir Carl Douglas Aarvold (7 June 1907 – 17 March 1991) was an English barrister who became Recorder of London. Among other cases, he presided at the 1965 trial of the Kray twins. In his earlier days, he was also an England rugby union international player.
Biography Born in Hartlepool, he was educated at Durham School and Emmanuel College, Cambridge and from 1928 until 1933 played rugby 16 times for his country, captaining the side six times. He was called to the bar in 1932. Two years later he married Noeline Hill at St George's, Hanover Square, and the marriage yielded three sons.
His professional career was interrupted by World War II during which he served in the Royal Artillery and reached the temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1945 for his war service and also received the Territorial Decoration and then Judge of the Lord Mayor's and City of London Court (later Common Serjeant ). By now Master of the Inner Temple he succeeded Edward Anthony Hawke to be Recorder of London, the Senior Judge at The Old Bailey in 1964, and was knighted in 1968. A long-serving president of the Lawn Tennis Association, he died on 17 March 1991; his wife died in 2005.
In 1966, he received the Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria.
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Important facts
People in Carl Aarvold's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Carl Aarvold's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Carl Aarvold?
English barrister who became Recorder of London, and rugby union footballer (1907-1991)
When was Carl Aarvold born?
Carl Aarvold was born on 7 June 1907 in Hartlepool.
When did Carl Aarvold die?
Carl Aarvold died on 17 March 1991 in Westhumble.
What was Carl Aarvold's occupation?
Carl Aarvold was a judge, rugby union player and barrister.
What nationality was Carl Aarvold?
Carl Aarvold was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Carl Aarvold. https://biography.guide/carl-aarvold/
MLA: "Carl Aarvold." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/carl-aarvold/.
Chicago: "Carl Aarvold." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/carl-aarvold/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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