[Elisabeth became a magistrate when she retired to the Cotswolds. She took this incredibly seriously and invested huge amounts of time and effort to mke sure she gave every person in front of her the very best of justice. These are some memories of her from some of her fellow magistrates who we thank so much for sharing them with us]

I know she was highly respected by her fellow magistrates.I only met her once, when she did my very first appraisal as a magistrate. I just remember her being so thorough and so kind and so encouraging; I can honestly say that I look back on that appraisal as the best one I have ever had in terms of her capacity to empathise and to encourage.
Unfortunately she left the Bench very soon after that [magistrates had to retire at 70]

Stephanie

She was a kind and supportive friend to me when I first became a magistrate and my memories of her are of a dedicated, compassionate, commited (and sometimes a little frightening) colleague.

She once appraised me and it was one of the most gruelling mental workouts I can remember..in a good way! But she made us laugh too and was always fascinating to talk to.

Michele

She was an amazing lady. When she joined the Bench she filled me with terror even though I had been there 10 years before her. She was so detailed and clever and kept me on my toes.

Many new magistrates owe her a debt of gratitude when she Mentored them. We always enjoyed chatting at the Dinner in November and I met her with her carer out for a lunch and she remembered me and we had a chat about old times.

Jennie

Elisabeth became a magistrate on her retirement from her professor’s position. She brought with her a serious approach, attention to detail, a fund of common sense, and a mind well trained in reasoning.

This was most helpful to all the magistrates who sat with her. Her memory of earlier management commitments proved very useful and helpful when the Cirencester group of magistrates were fully amalgamated into a County wide bench.

When offered to be trained to sit as a court chairman, she declined as she was too near retirement from the bench at 70 yrs and I respected her decision, and valued her contribution as a winger [When sitting three magistrates on the bench, the chairman will sit in the middle. The magistrates sitting on either side of the chairman are called wingers].

Deirdre