Courtesy of the County Courts Act we have the mysterious office of a "Trinity Master" upon whom the Court of Appeal in Admiralty cases is to call:
"Where, on an appeal by a party to any Admiralty proceedings which have been heard in a county court with the assistance of assessors, any party makes application to the Court of Appeal in that behalf, the court shall summon Trinity masters to assist on the hearing of the appeal if the court is of opinion that such assistance is necessary or desirable."
Who are these mysterious figures? Well it actually takes a little bit of digging (ie more than several google searches) but it's worth it. It all stems from Trinity House which is effectively a guild of lighthousemen and sea pilots established in the 1500s. The members of the Corporation are divided into Elder and Younger Brethen. Elder brethren are known as Masters.
Here's a good quick summary:
"Trinity house
The Corporation of Trinity House, established as a guild of mariners by King Henry VIII of England in 1517, in the Parish of Deptford Strond, in the County of Kent (now near the Tower of London). The Trinity House has been responsible, since the time of Queen Elizabeth I, for the erection and maintenance of lighthouses, lightships and buoys in English waters. It is also the authority for the licensing of pilots. The "Elder Brethren" of Trinity House (retired sea captains, also known as "Trinity Masters") serve as nautical assessors to the High Court, Admiralty Division."
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