An Auckland solicitor who died in a climbing accident in 1965, before being capped with his Master of Laws, has received a posthumous LLM.

The Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland is holding a special event today (Thursday) to celebrate the conferring of a posthumous Master of Laws (LLM) on Glen Ian Silvester.

Mr Silvester, 27, was killed in a climbing accident on Mt Taranaki on 3 May 1965, a few days before the graduation ceremony, so never received his degree award.

The university says Mr Silvester completed his LLB in 1961 and was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court the same year, and barrister in 1962. He won a Hugh Campbell Scholarship to study for his LLM, which he completed in 1964. He was also a part-time tutor at the university.

The Auckland Star article about the death
of Glen Silvester in 1965.

An obituary in the university magazine Craccum from the time says he was Vice-President of the American Field Service and a dedicated church worker.

He was survived by his wife and his son, who for some time has been keen to see his father's degree conferred posthumously.

That occurred during the September graduation ceremonies, after staff in the Records and Graduation Offices confirmed his eligibility.

Today’s special event will be attended by family members including his son and granddaughter, the latter being a law student.