Magistrates and judges show their colours (From Surrey Comet)

Magistrates and judges show their colours

2:25pm Tuesday 5th October 2010 in Save Kingston Magistrates By Martin George

Two contrasting contributions Kingston’s threatened magistrates make to our town’s community were on show last weekend when they donned shorts and t-shirts for charity at the weekend and suits and ties for Kingston’s most prestigious civic occasion the next day.

A group of magistrates rowed 21 miles from London Docklands to Ham to raise money for charity as part of the annual Great River Race on Sunday, September 26.

Two weeks ago magistrates joined the Surrey Comet to present a 4,200 signature petition against plans to close the court to 10 Downing Street, and on Sunday the magistrates proudly wore their Save Our Court t-shirts as they rowed past Parliament.

Kingston magistrates have raised over £30,000 for charity through the river race and the London legal aid walk since 2006.

Leading magistrate Graham Forrester said the event was just another example of the role Kingston’s magistrates played in the community.

The following day saw magistrates in more formal attire as they joined crown court judges, the mayor and leading councillors in the annual civic procession to All Saints Parish Church.