FORMER head teacher and college principal David Hudson is the new chairman of the bench at Bury Magistrates Court.

Currently deputy chairman, he takes over the top spot in the New Year from Mr Leslie Berkeley.

Mr Hudson joined the bench in 1986 and has been deputy chairman for the last five years.

He was head master of Stand Grammar School and principal of Stand College from 1972-1987, and vice-principal of Bury College until his retirement in 1996.

Mr Hudson and his wife Pauline have lived in Bury for 30 years. He is a member of Radcliffe Athletic Club and of Prestwich and Whitefield Rotary Club, and has raised thousands of pounds for charity on running and cycling trips.

He said: "I feel privileged to be chosen by my colleagues to take on this role and will strive to serve both the bench and the people of the metropolitan borough of Bury as best I am able.

"The task of being a magistrate is not getting simpler or less demanding, but it is good to see that the number of applications increases whenever we advertise.

"Many changes are round the corner for us in Bury Court. I am confident that the Bury bench will continue as always to administer justice impartially."

Retiring chairman Mr Leslie Berkeley has been a Bury magistrate since 1982. He was MD of a clothing manufacturing company for 40 years with factories in Manchester, Middleton, Salford and Crewe.

For 15 years he has served on the disability, child support, rating and council tax appeals panels.

He is a former Labour councillor and governor of Stand Grammar Schools, and a past executive member of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

The new deputy chairman of the bench is Bury-born Mrs Dorothy Fletcher, a local magistrate for 25 years.

She attended Stand Grammar School for Girls, and after gaining her degree taught at various local schools and became a deputy head mistress.

She lives in Prestwich with her husband, and they have two grown-up sons.

Long-serving magistrate Norman Garnett is retiring after 32 years service, during which he has been bench chairman, deputy chairman and chairman of the juvenile court. He was chairman when he welcomed the Princess Royal to open the new court building.

He served 48 years as a leader with the Scout movement, and was Assistant County Commissioner for Greater Manchester North.

Mr Garnett was made a freeman of the City of London in recognition of his contribution to the financial services industry.

He has been married to Joyce for 47 years, and they have five children and 12 grandchildren.