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Peter McWilliams a great legal advocate of yesterdayKnown for his sartorial ele-In 1958, he became the firstexplained ...gance and trenchant wit in theand only appointed Crown"As you can tell from the quaintcourtroom, Peter K. McWilliams,Attorney for Halton County andand curious stories I have written,Q.C., Oakville's own Rumpole of served with distinction for 10the life of a general (legal) practi-the Bailey, has died.years.tioner can be very interesting. ItMcWilliams died peacefully onIn 1968, he became Haltonprovides a wonderful opportunityMay 31 in his sleep, in his 85thConservative candidate underto observe and study the humanyear, after enjoying a sojourn toRobert Stanfield againstcondition and to use our accumu-Niagara-on-the-Lake, his mother'sTrudeaumania.lated understanding of humanbirthplace.McWilliams was an entertain-nature, and knowledge of the law,Predeceased by his beloveding, yet outstanding, courtroomto assist our clients with theirFrances Ivy McWilliams (neelawyer and a formidable adver-problems, large and small. To myAlbertson), his brother, David I.sary. mind, that's what entitles lawyersMcWilliams, Q.C., sister-in-lawMcWilliams who had a pen-to call theirs a learned profes-Beverly, of Windsor, Ontario andchant for author Charles Dickens,sion."his parents, Lorna Irelandsaw Dickens in everyday life andIn keeping with his love of McWilliams, Q.C. and David B.became a sincere and wily advo-Dickens, McWilliams saw himself McWilliams, P. Eng.cate for the underdog.as an uncommercial travellerHe is dearly missed by his chil-His deep belief in correctingenjoying the happenings and com-dren, Susan, Darcy and Brian andinjustice led him to take on law-pany of each day's journey. He willSUBMITTED PHOTOhis grandchildren Andrew, Shaysuits many lawyers shied awaybe remembered for his profoundA DICKENS OF A BARRISTER:Peter McWilliams with his grandson, and Marlow.from, including actions againstlove of the law, history and hisAndrew McWilliams, in a photo taken in May of this year.At age 16, McWilliams enteredpolice wrongdoing.family.Harvard, interrupting his studiesAn esteemed legal scholar, heHalton lawyers, judges, formerhas been my good fortune toand even more so in Peel, has soin 1944 to join the U.S. Navy andwrote and edited for 30 years,clients, family and friends willobserve the microcosm of life in aincreased that the old landmarksserve in Hawaii, Japan and China. McWilliams on Canadian Criminal gather to say their goodbyes tosmall distinct town (Milton) withare disappearing; farmhouses,He followed the legal profes-Evidence, a text which continuesthis great legal advocate of yester-all the richness of its peculiaritiesbarns, orchards and woods aresion of his mother, brother andtoday.day at a memorial service to beand complexity of people whodemolished to make way for newgrandfather and practiced law inIn 1990, he publishedTheheld at Maple Grove Unitedknew each other and their familiessubdivisions, offices, buildings,Milton and Oakville for 58 years.Rambling Tales of A CountryChurch, 346 Maple Grove Dr. onbefore them, and accepted theirmalls and factories."In 1953, he began his legalLawyer, about the bench, bar andThursday, June 9 at 3 p.m.eccentricities with indulgent graceHoping his little stories servedcareer in Milton and laterpeople of Halton County. Submitted by Susan...to record the variety, humour andOakville.In hisTales, he exclaimed, "ItMcWilliams, daughter"The pace of change in Halton,pathos of that former society, hewww.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, June 9, 2011 18