Nanette Watson – Obituary
Nanette Watson, who has died aged 65 after a short illness, was an incredibly well-respected Solicitor acting in care cases for children and parents.
Nanette was born in Glasgow and moved to N Ireland aged 2. After attending Ballymena Academy, Nanette was 21 when she moved to London, initially working as a housing officer in Camden – where she met her partner, Ken. She studied law as a mature student and found a training contract with Alexanders before joining Traymans in 1990 where she combined both criminal defence, especially juvenile crime and family law for 20 years, building an enviable reputation as a fiercely committed advocate. A reflection of that incredible work ethic was the comment by one of her ex-colleagues that “we had to employ two people to replace Nanette”.
Nanette’s sons Danny and Conor were born in 1992 and 1999 after she and Ken had settled in together in 1991 to start a family.
In April 2010, seeking a new challenge, Nanette joined Powell Spencer & Partners now specialising in care proceedings involving vulnerable children.
Nanette easily built enduring relationships with friends, colleagues and clients and was hugely admired within the legal profession for the compassion and commitment she brought to her cases, her wise advice and her excellent advocacy.
Many tributes have spoken of Nanette’s great spirit and zest for life and work and recalled her relaxing with a laugh and natter over a glass of wine on a Friday evening after her usual hard worked week.
That said nothing mattered more than her love for her family and her pride in her sons. She remained a country girl at heart with a lifelong passion for walking, hiking and wild swimming although she was equally at home in her beloved garden or in Kew Gardens for a birthday treat.
A wonderful solicitor, colleague and friend and loved by so many her sudden death is a devastating loss for her family and all who had the good fortune to have their lives touched by hers.
Nanette is survived by her mother Rose, brother Bobby, sister Maggie, husband Ken and her sons Danny and Conor.
Greg Powell