John Pennycuick

Sir John Pennycuick (6 November 1899 – 14 January 1982) was an English barrister and judge. He was a High Court judge from 1960 to 1974, and Vice-Chancellor of the Chancery Division from the recreation of the office in 1970 until 1974.

He was also an amateur tennis player who competed at the Wimbledon Championships between 1925 and 1931.

Early life and legal career Pennycuick was the only son of the British Army officer and engineer Colonel John Pennycuick, (1841–1911). He also attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst,

He was called to the bar at Inner Temple in 1925, in the Chancery Division, and received the customary knighthood. Pennycuick became the first modern Vice-Chancellor in July 1970 when the office was revived to replace the title of "Senior Judge" for the head of the Chancery Division. He was appointed as a Privy Counsellor in the Queen's Birthday Honours List in June 1974, and retired as a full-time Chancery judge in September 1974, although he continued to occasionally sit as a judge. He was appointed Tresurer of the Inner Temple from 1978 to 1979. In major tournaments between 1925 and 1931, he competed at the Wimbledon Championships six times in the men's singles events. He advanced to the third round in 1925 where he lost to the Indian player Jagat Mohan Lal, and 1926 where he was beaten by Czech international Jan Koželuh.

His career singles highlights included winning the Cinque Ports Championships three times in 1926, 1927 and 1929, the Hampshire Championships in 1927, the South Herefordshire Championships in 1931 and 1934, the Birchington Open in 1933 and 1936, the Wiltshire Championships in 1934 and 1935, and the Kent Coast Championships in 1937 and 1938.

Family He married Lucy Johnstone in 1930, and they had one son and one daughter. His wife predeceased him in 1972.