John Murphy

Irish by birth, John Murphy and his family came to the UK in the later 1950’s and settled in Maidenhead. John went to school in Reading (Presentation College) before going to University at Leeds.

John graduated with First-Class Honours in History and won the University History Prize. John did his research on the Royal Households of Edward VI and Mary I at Leeds under Dr Christopher Challis. John later taught at Leeds, London and Exeter Universities and held a Research Fellowship from the Institute of Historical Research in London.

In 1983 John joined a firm of Patent Attorneys in the City of London and became Practice Manager.  In addition to managing a hundred staff, he set up HR systems and computerised reporting and accounting systems. He introduced Data Protection Procedures and Health & Safety Systems and training; wrote Office Reference Manuals; was involved in the development of software to enable the automation and computerisation of the Patent and Trade Mark and Designs Records Systems. He was also involved in developing a Professional Qualification for Formalities Clerks and advised the Institute of Diversities and Equalities policy.

From the late 1980’s John had serious health issues and ultimately developed cancer which resulted in major surgery and chemotherapy. He never quite recovered his previous robustness so in 2006 he took retirement through ill-health.

By then he had been involved in both the campaign for LGBTQ+ Equal Rights and also for Health and Housing rights for those stricken with AIDS.

John moved to Benson from London after being involved in buying old unloved properties and reimagining and redeveloping them.

In the last decade, John has become more involved in various aspects of village life and he is a trustee of Friends of Benson Library, of which he is now a CIO. He is also an active member of the Catholic community and is Parish Administrator at St Birinus, Dorchester on Thames. He is also Chair and trustee of Davey Consort CIO, a music charity that, amongst other things,  sponsors the St Birinus Festival. Recently the Society for Court Studies asked him to assist them as treasurer and trustee.