Sir Dingwall Latham Bateson

Sir Dingwall 'Dingo' Latham Bateson, CBE, MC, (1898- January 29 1967), was a lawyer and President of the Law Society.

First World War service

Bateson was awarded the Military Cross (MC) whilst a second lieutenant attached to the 2nd Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment. [LondonGazette|issue=31373|supp=yes|startpage=6951|date=30 May 1919|accessdate=2008-02-05]

Career

Bateson was a lawyer at firm Slaughter and May. [http://www.biltongrange.net/do_download.asp?did=27445]

In 1922 he married Naomi Judith, eldest daughter of composer Walter Galpin Alcock. They had two sons and one daughter.Times, January 31 1967, p. 12]

He was awarded a CBE in 1946. In 1952-53 he was president of the Law Society and was knighted in 1953.

Homosexual friends

Though Bateson was married, he had various important homosexual friends. He advised Noel Coward on financial affairs and Coward, in gratitude, named his speedboat "Dingo" after Bateson [Cole Lesley, "The Life of Noel Coward", Jonathan Cape, 1976. Page 366] . Bateson was also friends with Sir Roland Gwynne, Mayor of Eastbourne 1928-1931 and lover of suspected serial killer John Bodkin Adams, who left Bateson his whole estate in his will (though in the end Bateson predeceased him).Pamela V. Cullen, "A Stranger in Blood: The Case Files on Dr John Bodkin Adams", London, Elliott & Thompson, 2006, ISBN 1-904027-19-9. Page 635]

Death

Bateson died in a shooting accident in Merstham, Surrey, in January 29 1967.

Quotes

"A solicitor is a man who calls in a person he doesn't know, to sign a contract he hasn't seen, to buy property he doesn't want, with money he hasn't got." [http://www3.hku.hk/eroonweb/hongrads/person.php?mode=detail&id=40]

References