Kathleen Donnelly KC

Barrister at Henderson Chambers

[Christopher Head OBE @chrish9070]

#PostOfficeScandal Wonderful story in @thetimes by @katie_gatens .....I believe a huge congratulations are in order🥂🎉

Alan Bates gets married … on Richard Branson’s island‼️

It is, Sir Alan Bates insists, all the fault of the King.

Since the Post Office campaigner was given a knighthood in the King’s birthday honours list in June, nobody knew how to address his partner, Suzanne Sercombe.

After 34 years together — 20 of which Bates has spent campaigning for justice for the victims of the Horizon IT scandal — they had never got round to getting married.

“Ever since I’ve had this knighthood, people haven’t been sure how to address Suzanne. Even I wasn’t sure,” said Bates, who was played by Toby Jones in the hit ITV series Mr Bates vs the Post Office.

“I thought, ‘It’s only fair. It’s time to resolve that.’ Personally, I blame the King. It’s been 34 years and we’ve managed to never do it but he really dropped me in it.” As the wife of a knight, Suzanne will now be addressed as Lady Bates.

The couple got married on August 27 not in Colwyn Bay, Wales, where they live, but in a more reliably sunny climate: Necker Island, in the British Virgin Islands, owned by another knight of the realm: Sir Richard Branson (@richardbranson )

The Virgin entrepreneur officiated at their wedding and made a speech that touched on Bates’s dogged battle with the Post Office. The couple went to the register office on the nearby island of Tortola the day before for the official ceremony.

Branson, who bought Necker in 1976, invited the couple to the island after Bates said in an interview in The Sunday Times in January: “If Richard Branson is reading this, I’d love a holiday.”

The marriage was a surprise to the new Lady Bates, who only learnt of Bate’s plans hours before they went to Tortola. “I’d been hatching this plot for a number of weeks,” said Bates, who turned 70 while they were away.

He enlisted Necker and Virgin staff to help with the logistics of the ceremony, flowers and photographer and made sure it was kept secret from his partner.

The couple flew first-class from London to Antigua and spent a week on Necker, followed by a week in Antigua, where they celebrated his birthday last Monday.

Bates said he wanted to make the most of his once-in-a-lifetime trip to Branson’s private island, which can be hired, sleeping as many as 48 guests, from $150,000 a night, depending on the time of year. “I’ve always been one to take advantage of the best situation,” said Bates. “It just seemed a good idea being on Necker and it being a wonderful place.”

The proposal, or rather lack of it, was also unconventional. “We were having breakfast [on Necker]. I was having a relaxed chat with Richard and he said: ‘Alan’s got something to say to you’,” said Suzanne, 69. Bates explained they were to go to the register office in Tortola on Monday. “And then he resumed his conversation,” she said. “He didn’t exactly go down on one knee, but, mind you, knees aren’t what they used to be at our age.”

She said she was “amazed”, adding: “I didn’t have a clue. At times he’s a very devious and secretive person.” With no chance to plan an outfit, she wore a patterned sundress she had packed for the holiday, which she thinks she bought in Ibiza many years ago.

Bates, whose dogged campaign for justice for the sub-postmasters caught up in the Horizon scandal started in 2003, quipped: “I haven’t got where I have without being a little bit devious.”

The ceremony took place on Necker’s Turtle Beach under a floral archway. The couple said having Branson officiate was “a hoot for the whole thing”, adding: “I think he actually enjoyed doing it.”

Branson said: “It was an absolute joy to play a small part in Alan and Suzanne’s love story, and I know they will continue to spread the beautiful light they share with everyone around them.”

Their wedding party was made up of other holidaymakers staying on the island, and the ceremony was followed by a reception and a party, with a number of guests dancing into the evening. “Suzanne’s always dancing. It wasn’t a late night,” said Bates. “It was a very nice social do.”

The marriage will also be a surprise to their family and friends in the UK. “How could I tell them? We couldn’t let them know until we got home,” said Bates. “We’ve been together for 34 years — it will really come as a big surprise.”

After jetting back from the Caribbean, Bates will now focus his attention on the Post Office inquiry, to which he has already given evidence. Phase 7, the final phase, will resume on September 23. Along with hundreds of other wronged sub-postmasters, he is awaiting further compensation.

“When we get back, it’s time to get started on the real work again,” said Bates.

#PostOfficeScandal #PostOfficeInquiry #MrBatesVsPostOffice #MrBatesVsThePostOffice #MrBatesPBS #Redress #Wedding #Congratulations #LadyBates

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@chrish9070 Finally. This was incredibly unjust. See also the evidence that was revealed at the inquiry in Teju's case concerning her 'confession'. @nickwallis write up on her case here https://t.co/gNx2QwDFT0

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@nickwallis The world has woken up

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@mySociety Brava Eleanor @ElCShaikh ! Your work is hugely impressive and rightly recognised.

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@ElCShaikh captures the casual brutality of Teju’s case being referred for prosecution when not even the investigator believed she had taken the money. Teju ‘confessed’ when presented with Horizon evidence. How can PO say it’s not a Horizon related conviction?

[El Shaikh @ElCShaikh]

1/22 When in September 2005 auditors discovered an alleged £52,864 shortfall in the branch account at Rainham Road Post Office, Sub-Postmistress Teju Adedayo fabricated a story to explain what had happened to the ‘missing’ money.

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@mcdermottkc_ You are too kind. A lot of fun and totally exhausting in equal measure.

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

It was a privilege to moderate the session on global class actions at the #iba2023 in the Paris Commercial Court. With Justice Lee from Australia, Judge Haravon from France, Judge Jongeneel from the Netherlands, and Robert Johnston, chair of the class actions committee.

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@FloraClairePage Thank you so much Flora

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

Silks day! Absolutely joyous! With love to my family and the best chambers I could ever wish for - Henderson Chambers we did this!

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@wendy2412 Thank you! And for your brilliant help and support ❤���

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@rbnicholson @RichardMoorhead Thank you Robert - I loved how you put that piece together with @JoHamil73963257

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@RichardMoorhead Our @Henderson_Bar team was once described in Court as "the jam and the cream". I can really get in to these jam references! Thank you :-)

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@BigChrisT5 Thank you for this lovely comment Chris

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@mcdermottkc_ It was FANTASTIC! Thank you!

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@CastletonLee Thank you Lee it was an incredible day!

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@chrish9070 Chris thank you!

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@JoHamil73963257 Thank you Jo! ❤️

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@jamessflee @BarristerLM Thank you!

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@RichardMoorhead Thank you Richard!

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@RickLiddell2 Thanks Rick! It was a fantastic day.

[Kathleen Donnelly KC @donnellykat]

@VarchasPatel Thank you Varchasanraj!