Death of Official Solicitor Alastair Pitblado
It is with sadness that we announce that Alastair Pitblado, the Official Solicitor and Public Trustee, has died following a serious illness.
For more than a decade Alastair was dedicated to his role representing in court those who did not have the mental capacity or means to represent themselves. Alastair also took on the role of Public Trustee in October 2016.
The Ministry of Justice’s Permanent Secretary, Richard Heaton, paid tribute to Alastair:
Like many colleagues, I have greatly admired Alastair’s long and dedicated service as Official Solicitor and, more recently, as Public Trustee. Alastair was an ardent advocate for the rights of the vulnerable and was at the forefront of developments in that area of law. I also remember well his earlier career as a highly respected member of the Government Legal Service.
I know that he will be greatly missed by those members of the judiciary and staff who were fortunate to work with him. But I think the support provided over the years to so many vulnerable people, by Alastair himself and by his office, should be regarded as a tribute to him and a mark of his achievement.
On behalf of the department, I offer my sincere condolences to Alastair’s family and friends.
The 3 Deputy Official Solicitors and the Deputy Public Trustee will be covering the Official Solicitor and Public Trustee’s statutory and leadership responsibilities.