The Willis Mills Trust Prize
HILS President Wayne Walker awards Willis-Mills 2023 Prize to Cameron Lees-Weir (photo: S Wilson/HILS)
On 5 December 2023, HILS President Wayne Walker, of Williamsons Solicitors, formally presented the Willis Mills Prize to Cameron Lees-Weir, at Hull Incorporated Law Society, Bury’s Chambers, Scale Lane, Hull.
Hull Incorporated Law Society presents the Willis Mills Prize of £100 annually, on behalf of the Willis Mills Trust, founded by a bequest from Beverley solicitor Mr James Willis Mills. The prize is awarded to the trainee solicitor or legal executive who passes with the highest mark in the Financial and Business Skills Course on the Professional Skills Course, or equivalent exam for professional entry as a solicitor.
The winner is also co-opted to serve for a year on the Council of Hull Incorporated Law Society, following professional qualification, with a year’s free membership.
Nominations are to be received by 1 September, so that the winner can be announced at HILS Annual Ball.
Who was James Willis Mills?
James Willis Mills (photo: HILS)
James Willis Mills (1855-1944) had a very long life and long career in Beverley. He was a partner in Crust, Todd, Mills of Beverley, solicitors, and left numerous bequests to charity and education, some in memory of friends, employees and relatives who had been killed in the First World War.
The Mills family had moved up to Hull from London in 19C when James Willis Mills’ father, James Mills (1831-1922), was a boy. He had joined Shepherd and Crust of Beverley in 1851, eventually becoming a partner in Crust, Todd, Mills and town clerk of Beverley in 1882, and Deputy Sheriff.
James Willis was one of ten children. He followed in his father’s footsteps, and was admitted solicitor on 21 February 1876, so served 68 years in the law. He also succeeded his father as Town Clerk of Beverley, and, like him, served as Deputy Sheriff 1889-1943. He was Chairman of the Hull Local Board of the Yorkshire Insurance Co., and an active and respected Freemason. He died at his home, Abbeyville, on 15 November 1944, aged 89; his widow Lily died a month later.