By Liz Allen and Dan Scales
Appelbe studied law at Cambridge. He came to live at Toynbee Hall in 1926 and volunteered at the Poor Man’s Lawyer Service until the early 1930s. At weekly advice surgeries Appelbe and his fellow lawyers gave free advice to local residents on issues ranging from debt advice to tenants rights. Whilst volunteering at Toynbee Hall Appelbe met and married fellow Poor Man’s lawyer and legal trailblazer Carrie Morrison. For a while the couple lived on the Toynbee Estate at Booth House.
Appelbe maintained his connection with Toynbee Hall all his life. He acted as our Honorary Solicitor until the 1990s and worked with many famous Toynbee Hall ‘alumni’ including William Beveridge and Clement Attlee. To learn more about Ambrose Appelbe and his connection with Toynbee Hall read the full booklet here.