Team steps off court bench
L12-1045 Retirement for Magistates at Luton Magistrates court, Stuart Street, and a 20 year long service award. Steve Nolan JR 34 21.8.12
Ten magistrates with more than 200 years court experience under their belt between them said goodbye to life on the bench as they celebrated their retirement last week.
Lesley Beardsall, Alice Crampin, Councillor Michael Garrett, Derek Hardy, Wendy Mattey, Ian Mackenzie, Susan Olney, Dr David Siegler, Jenny Smith, and Wesley Weekes have all retired in the past year or will be hanging up their gavel before March 2013.
The group celebrated their retirement in a special ceremony at Luton Magistrates Court last Tuesday attended by judge David Farrell QC and Bedfordshire’s High Sheriff Jack Sapsworth MBE.
Leslie Edwards and Michael Goodyear were also honoured for 20 years service on the bench.
Paying tribute to his colleagues, Barry Neale, Chairman of the Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates’ Bench, praised the work carried out by our local volunteer Justices of the Peace.
He said: “Magistrates play a vital role in modern society by strengthening the links between the courts and the communities they serve and are an excellent example of what the Prime Minister’s “Big Society” is all about.
Mr Neale added: “I am immensely proud of the work carried out by Magistrates in Luton and South Bedfordshire, and grateful to all my colleagues for their voluntary service to the public”.
From January 1 2013, the Luton and South Bedfordshire and the Bedford and Mid-Bedfordshire Benches will merge, to form a new, unified Bedfordshire Bench of more than 200 magistrates serving the whole of the county.
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Weather for Luton
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
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