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Court stalwart bids farewell
Bridlington Magistrates court Martin Dodgson Retires PA1151-11b
A LONG-Serving Magistrate who has twice been chairman of the Bridlington bench has chaired his last court session.
Martin Dodgson MBE has retired as a dispenser of local justice after almost 30 years as a magistrate.
Mr Dodgson had always fought for the principle that justice should be delivered locally by locally appointed Lay Magistrates.
He stepped down after his last court on Wednesday December 21, and said: “For 650 years there has been a tradition in this country that Lay Magistrates have dispensed justice locally.
“I am concerned that the closure of Courts and the increased number of District Judges being appointed to Magistrates’ Courts is gradually eroding the position of the Lay Magistrate.
“I fought long and hard for the new Bridlington Courthouse and I hope it will long remain for justice to be delivered locally by locally appointed Lay Magistrates.”
Before his final court opened, serving magistrates, court staff, lawyers and other officials gathered in Bridlington’s Court 1 to bid him farewell.
Defence solicitor Ed Cunnah said: “It’s a remarkable situation when someone who has put the amount of effort you have into supporting the court retires and it’s a very sad day. We will miss you and I hope you miss us.”
Andrew Vaughan of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “You will be sorely missed for your judgement has always been very careful, unfailingly fair and not lacking in dry humour.”
Jon Wild, speaking on behalf of the Probation Service, paid tribute to Mr Dodgson’s firmness and compassion.
“I have noticed you have run the court with a great deal of fairness, there has been certainly a lot of firmness and compassion. The Bridlington, Driffield and surrounding area owe you a debt of gratitude,” Mr Wild said.
Mr Dodgson, was presented with a fine crystal paperweight, inscribed with details of his years as a magistrate between 1982 and 2011.
Married to Vivienne with a son and daughter, Mr Dodgson, 70, lives in Thwing.
He became a magistrate in 1982 in Leeds before moving to Bridlington in 1990 where he has served as chairman of the bench twice, from 2000 to 2004 and during 2011.
During the past 30 years he had seen a number of changes to the justice system, including the replacement of police officers as prosecutors in the courts.
He also called for former colleagues to continue to fight to preserve local justice in Bridlington, telling them: “It’s imperative that local justice is protected in this area. Those that remain after me must fight to retain justice in this area in order that everybody can access fair justice for all, which is exactly what this whole complex court process is all about.”
Mr Dodgson was the Director of the Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People for 18 years before stepping down in 2005. He was awarded the MBE the same year in connection with his service to the charity.
He was also a former chairman of another Leeds based charity, the Wades Trust, dedicated to improving the lives and surroundings of people in the inner-Leeds area.
Lord Mayor of Leeds in 1983/84 he was made an Honorary Alderman of the City in 2005. Mr Dodgson is currently president of Leeds Rotary Club.
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Weather for Driffield
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
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