Magistrate bows out

10:00pm Wednesday 27th August 2008

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A LONG-serving magistrate has stepped down after 28 years.

Roy Jarvis, 70, from Swindon, celebrated his last day as a member of the Swindon bench in court number three with friends, family and colleagues.

There his friends paid tribute to the “father of the house.”

Roy was made a justice of the peace in 1980 after serving as a juror the year before.

During his career on the bench he presided over thousands of cases but he took a keen interest in licensing, volunteering to be a part of committees including gaming betting and licensing for 12 years.

He was the chairman of the committee for five of those years.

Roy was also a member of the Wiltshire Advisory Committee responsible for recommending people suitable to be appointed as magistrates from 1991 to 1997, and the bench training and development committee.

Those at his farewell do commended his approach to the bench as firm and fair.

Fellow magistrate Dick Mattick compared him to a referee saying he could have no greater understanding in human feelings and fair play.

He said: “Everything he does he does with a thoroughness and kindness.

“His fairness was always appreciated by defendants and improved the work of other magistrates.”

During his leaving speech Roy said that although an act passed in 1968 reduced the magistrates’ retirement age to 70, he does not feel any different in the courtroom than he did when he was 45.

He said: “I received a letter from the Lord Chancellor thanking me for my contribution to ‘a process which is largely unsung and unnoticed.’ “He wasn’t wrong. It was an interesting and challenging contribution to the well-being of society.

“Magistrates are important to ensure the interests of justice are fulfilled.

“When I leave this court this afternoon I am off to Asda and Tesco to see what jobs are going.

“I also want to check on the progress they are making monitoring their counterparts in Germany where sites have opened aimed at the elderly with wide aisles, magnifying glasses, hearing aids and comfortable seating.”

During his professional career he was a teacher at Churchfields School from 1967 to 1998 where he taught geography and was head of examinations.

He now hopes to spend his time relaxing with his grandchildren and wife, and also plans to take holiday in his country of origin, Wales, as well as France.