98th Entry Halton Apprentices

While I was writing about swapping prisons with nursing homes the other day I was reminded of an incident that happened during my initial magistrate training. One of the many requirements of people wanting to be a JP is that they must visit a prison and/or other penal establishment before sitting on the bench. A long serving [...]

My town, Doncaster, starts its annual celebrations tomorrow that surround the St Leger festival. The horse racing week starts a little later but the festival forms the backdrop to the main event with street activities in and around the town centre. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the good weather continues. The St Leger [...]

Scruffy, happy and in foreign climes. The photo was taken in 2004/05. Can you tell me who it is?
Clue: from the cut of his jib he is clearly one of ours!

A doctor was addressing a large audience in Oxford
“The material we put into our stomachs should have killed most of us sitting here, years ago. Red meat is full of steroids and dye. Soft drinks corrode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. High transfat diets can be disastrous and none of us [...]

Sometimes court users seem surprised when magistrates ask a question that reveals that they have a life outside the court and, yes, might even take a drink occasionally.
Wayne King (fictitious name) had been stopped for drink driving, and the Lion Intoximeter in the police station showed him to have a breath reading of 54 (the limit [...]

I was recently in London on a part business and part pleasure trip, during which I took my 14 year old grandson Dominic to the Tower of London. I have not been to the Tower of London since I was about his age so I was looking forward to the visit as much as he was. [...]

Now that is what I call a very stupid sign. In letters to the editor yesterday in the Telegraph a writer says ” There is a sign on Dorchester bypass that says: ‘Sign not in use’. Yep, I’m sure there is madam and the photo above shows another just like it - I think it is all to [...]

I am very busy for a few days so blogging will be very slack for the next day or two. I’ll get back as soon as I can.

There is a lot being written in the news lately about prisons and alternative sentences. For a change, here is a more light hearted court experience that always makes me smile when I am reminded about it. A young offender was sitting meekly in court as if ‘butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth’. Sitting behind [...]

The hot dry spell of weather we are experiencing has brought with it cases of drowning as kids are attracted to the water in reservoirs, lakes and streams. We have had one such tradegy here in Doncaster when a young lad got into difficulties and, sadly, drowned. I have never seen anyone drown or nearly drown and [...]