York Chambers, now part of Dere Street Chambers. DOZENS of judges past and present attended York Crown Court virtually to hear tributes to the first leader of the city’s only barrister chambers. Judge Simon Hawkesworth QC, sat in judgement from 1999 to his retirement in 2011 after a “stellar” career as a barrister that included nine years as head of York Chambers. “He was a much loved judge, he was fair, he was courteous and he was just,” said the Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris. He was flanked by Judge Simon Hickey in Courtroom One of York Crown Court. “We have all been deprived of the company of a powerful intellect, of a Bon Vivant, and a much loved husband, father of four proud boys and a friend.