Visit JCPCLord Snowden speaks to BBC Radio about his background and career in the Law
Lord Snowden, who was appointed to the Supreme Court earlier this year, has spoken to BBC Radio about his early life and background in Redcar, Cleveland, and his subsequent rise through the legal profession to the UK's highest court.
Speaking to Gary Philipson on BBC Radio Tees on Wednesday 21st October, Lord Snowden recounted how as a state school pupil he played football alongside former Middlesbrough and Celtic footballer (now coach) Tony Mowbray, before being encouraged to apply to Cambridge University - which at the time, had far fewer students with a state school backgrounds. Lord Snowden's father worked at ICI Chemicals and his mother was a teacher in Redcar.
"It's all been about local people supporting me to get where I got to".
Alongside football, Lord Snowden also played cricket and rugby, and said his sporting skills helped him to meet people at Cambridge, though he initially still felt intimidated.
"I was the lad from the North, but over the years my college at Cambridge had just made me incredibly welcome and supported everything I've done".
He also explained how some of his sporting skills became transferable, helping him in his legal career:
"I used to referee rugby games for 30-35 years, starting out in Redcar, Yorkshire. If you've done a few Redcar - Middlesbrough derbies on Boxing Day then you don't have to worry too much about some of the more vociferous court disputes! It's good training".
Reflecting on judicial outreach work, Lord Snowden told the BBC that courts should emphasise their relevance for all of the UK, with judges meeting schools, universities and local legal professionals around the country:
"Talking to schools and student at universities is something I've done for well over a decade. It's important to get into schools, to get to people when they're thinking about a career, and persuading them that they do have the prospect of getting on and fulfilling their potential."
"It's something the Supreme Court does as a matter of its business. We have 9,000 or more students come through its doors to see the Court every year; we go out every term to talk to students. It's important to make law relevant to younger people."
You can find out more about the Court's educational and outreach programmes here and you can listen to the full interview with Lord Snowden on the BBC Sounds app Gary Philipson - 21/10/2026 - BBC Sounds. The interview begins at approximately 14 minutes in.