Greenhalgh, John Herbert Stobart (1854-1928), barrister

• Greenhalgh, John Herbert (birth name)
• Brother Jack (nickname)

Greenhalgh was born John Herbert Greenhalgh at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, in 1853 or 1854, the fourth son of Herbert John Greenhalgh (d. 1897) and Emma Anne Greenhalgh, née Leavers. He attended Rossall School and was admitted at Jesus College, Cambridge, on 1 October 1877, obtaining his BA in 1882. He was admitted at the Inner Temple on 20 November 1880, was called to the Bar on 7 July 1886, and subsequently practised on the Midland Circuit. In 1891 he was living with his parents at 170 Carr Bank, Mansfield, and in the same year was published The Metropolitan Police Guide, of which he was a co-author. Like George C. Cope (see above) he became acquainted with Emmeline Pethick and Mary Neal some time about the end of the century, when he and Cope were sharing a flat in Endsleigh Terrace. He had evidently spent some time recently working abroad, for Emmeline described him, as he was then, as ‘a judge on holiday from Burma’ (My Part in a Changing World, p. 113). ‘He had,’ she related, ‘undertaken to return there, but became so interested in our ideas that he resigned his position and gave instructions to his friends in Burma for his property to be sold. He looked a typical aristocrat and we used to tease him by saying that he gave “tone” to us all. But aristocrat as he appeared to be and was, no more simple and kindly heart was hidden under an immaculate coat.’ In 1899 Cope and Greenhalgh stood as Progressives in the vestry election for St Pancras.

On 11 March 1911 Greenhalgh married Mabel Anne Stobart (née Boulton) (1862-1954), the widow of St Clair Stobart, at St John’s church, Westminster, and he afterwards added the name Stobart to his own. His wife was distinguished as a medical relief worker and writer. Greenhalgh’s involvement with social work continued after his marriage, and on 11 August 1911 and 9 October 1913 he issued notices in The Times as honorary treasurer of the Green Lady Hostel. At this time his address was 3 Reynolds Close, Hampstead Garden Suburb. He died on 2 March 1928 at 7 Turner’s Wood, London, and his funeral took place at Studland, Dorset, on the 6th, followed by a memorial service at Hampstead Garden Suburb Free Church.