Nicholas Stadlen, who has died of mesothelioma aged 73, rose to the pinnacle of his profession as a commercial lawyer and high court judge before retiring early from the bench in 2013. Then he opened a new chapter by interviewing five survivors from among Nelson Mandela’s co-defendants and legal team at the Rivonia trial of 1963-64 for a documentary film, Life is Wonderful: Mandela’s Unsung Heroes.
Nick was in awe of Mandela and the seven people who were convicted of attempting to overthrow the state by violent means and given life sentences; and of the legal team led by the barrister and underground activist Bram Fischer, for their selflessness and courage in being prepared to sacrifice their lives for the greater good.
