Claire spent her early years in Widnes, before moving to Frodsham in Cheshire.  There she completed her junior and secondary education with distinction, and became adept at playing both the flute and the piano.  As the first member of her family to attend university, Claire did so in some style, gaining a place to read law at Downing College, Cambridge, and graduating with first class honours, having gained Harris and Senior Harris scholarships and been Joint President of the Cranworth Law Society along the way.  After passing her bar exams, she was called to the bar by the Middle Temple, which awarded her a Queen Mother Fox Scholarship, in November 1996.  She joined the Midland Circuit, on which she undertook her pupillage at 7 Fountain Court, Birmingham in 1996-97.  Her pupil masters were David Lock and Guy Spollon.

Having obtained her tenancy, she built up an excellent junior practice in chancery and commercial work on the Circuit, as a member of what in 1998 became St Philips Chambers.  She was appointed to the Attorney General's civil panel, and undertook such work regularly.  As an active member of the Midland Chancery & Commercial Bar Association (MCCBA), she organised both social events and lectures with aplomb.  In 2004 she became Secretary of the Midland Circuit.

Claire was a vibrant personality, with a great sense of humour, a wonderful smile, and a natural warmth wholly undiminished by any airs or graces.  She settled in Moseley, Birmingham and in August 2003 married Peter Causton, a solicitor, latterly at Browne Jacobson.  Their first son, Alexander, was born in December 2004, and on Claire’s return to work she happily juggled the demands of motherhood with those of a busy and successful practice at the bar.  Tobias (‘Toby’), a much longed-for second child, was born in November 2007, but in the weeks after his birth Claire became increasingly unwell.  She was found to be suffering from skin cancer, a condition for which she had been treated some 10 years earlier with apparent success.

From then onwards Claire battled bravely against the illness, and volunteered to undergo experimental treatment at Christie’s Hospital in Manchester.  Unfortunately, although the treatment seemed to have an encouraging effect on some tumours, Claire’s overall condition became progressively worse.  She moved to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd in Backford in mid-July, and passed away in the early hours of Saturday 26th July.  Remarkably, but wholly in character, she was positive in outlook, down to earth about her condition and uncomplaining to the end.

The following Monday her passing was marked in a packed court room at Birmingham County Court, at which James Burbidge QC, her head of chambers, and His Honour Judge David Worster spoke most warmly about her.  Claire’s funeral and interment were held in Frodsham on Friday 1st August.  Few if any of the large number of mourners, who included the present and immediate past leaders of the Circuit, 2 former chairmen of the MCCBA, and a Fellow of Downing College, will ever attend a more moving occasion.  Claire is sorely missed by her widower Peter and theirs sons Alexander and Toby, her parents Philip and Linda, her brother Matthew, her extended family, and her many friends from her chambers, from across this her Circuit, and beyond.  May she rest in peace.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       JYR