JP retires after 26 years (From This Is Lancashire)

JP retires after 26 years

6:10am Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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AFTER serving 26 years as a Justice of the Peace, Bury man Bob Fielding has certainly achieved an enviable “bench” mark.

Now, after reaching the age of 70, he has had to retire from sitting at Bury Magistrates Court.

To mark his long service, the Brandlesholme father of two was presented with a television as well as a framed certificate on behalf of Her Majesty’s Court Service.

A former river pollution control officer originally with the National River Authority and latterly the Environment Agency for 28 years, Mr Fielding has devoted around 18 days a year to his JP duties.

“I became a JP when a chap I worked with told me he was a magistrate,” he recalled. “He seemed to enjoy it and said it was a worthwhile thing to do. As a result, I decided to give it a try.

“Being a magistrate all these years was certainly an eye opener in terms of what’s going on in the world. I think the word variety sums it up. There’s always something different and new.”