A BURY magistrate who has spent more than 20 years serving the community has retired.

Mr Leslie Berkeley, of Ringley Road, Whitefield, has been on the board of Bury Magistrates for the last 22 years. He spent two years as deputy chairman and five years as chairman.

Mr Berkeley said: "I am very, very sorry to be leaving but, at 70, I have no choice. I'll be dragged out kicking and screaming!"

Mr Berkeley, who ran his own clothing manufacturing company in Middleton, became a magistrate to repay a personal debt after his father arrived in Britain at the age of 11.

"My father came to this country as an immigrant from Romania and, if he hadn't have been so warmly welcomed, we would have perished during the Holocaust. So I've always fet I had a debt to this country and needed to give as much back," he explained.

Mr Berkeley was born in Prestwich and moved to Whitefield when he married his wife of 49 years, Valerie. The couple have three daughters and one son, all married, with nine grandchildren who live in the Manchester area.

One of the many highlights of Mr Berkeley's career was becoming the first chairman in the country to witness his eldest daughter, Denise, being sworn onto the bench at Manchester magistrates.

He also attended the Royal Garden Party last year at Buckingham Palace after receiving an impressive three different invitations from three different sources.

He said: "That was a lovely day and it was very touching for so many different people to think of me. I went as a guest of the Duchy of Lancaster, who invited my wife and I for lunch, and escorted us to the Palace. They even stopped traffic at the Strand for us to cross!"

He added: "There have been a tremendous amount of changes throughout the years which I always went along with. I've always believed we are there to uphold the laws made, not dispute them. I am going to miss it very much, especially all my colleagues and the work as well."