BIOGRAPHY

Andrew Michael Hajducki was born in Dulwich Hospital, South London, on November 12th, 1952, the year of the great smog. His father Henryk was a civil engineer and refugee from Poland, who had survived a dangerous trip across Europe, catching virtually the last boat out of Dunkirk before France fell to the Nazis. His mother was a school teacher from Glasgow, and Andrew and his older brother Stefan were raised in Beckenham, South London.

Educated at Dulwich College, he read law at Downing College, Cambridge, before studying at the bar at Grey’s Inn, becoming firstly an English barrister, then after moving to Edinburgh and retraining, a Scottish advocate. He was made QC in 1994 and practiced up until retiring in 2016. He was also a lifelong liberal, standing as a one-time candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Edinburgh South, where he was came second place ahead of the Tories.

His great passions in life were walks in the countryside, books, poetry, true crime, film noir and of course, railways. On occasion his passions would meet his working life, for example during the landmark case in which he saved the West Highland Line sleeper service from London to Fort William from being axed. The leader of the Highlands Council who wanted to scrap the service was furious at their loss, and was overheard remarking, “Just our luck that their QC is a bloody railway enthusiast!”.

During his lifetime he published 8 volumes of railway history and 2 legal textbooks but he also wrote 2 excellent novels, a book of poetry, a travellogue and an unfinished autobiography. His intention was to dedicate his retirement to writing full time, although sadly he was taken before his time. But despite declining health in his last few years, he kept at it, completing his second novel just months before he died.

Andrew was a loving family man. He was married to Kate Hajducka, an artist, and has three children from his first marriage with 9 grandchildren. His family intend to keep his legacy alive by publishing his remaining unpublished works. First off the press was his first novel, crime thriller The Liverpool Packet, available now, to be followed by Minor Saints and Fertile Soils, his compilation of poetry, due winter 2024 and finally his second novel Dog Kennel Hill due 2024. Also due 2023 is Two Journeys in Wales, his son David’s account of his Welsh Challenge.

GALLERY