Talk: Alister Boyd JP - Magistrates in the Community

Speaker résumé:

Alister Boyd JP – Magistrates in the Community

I am 70 years young, a farmer all my life originally dairy, sheep and cereals- at present I farming with my son on a 500 acre Weald farm growing cereals and beans,  with a 120 head beef suckler herd.

I have, in my history, served as a retained fire officer for 18yrs, in my then, local village resigning when I moved out of the area to where I now live now in Bethersden.

I have also been Chairman of Kent NFU Legal Committee, a committee member for 2 yrs. of the Government review of the Compensation and Compulsory Purchase Act. I have been a Parish Councillor for 10yrs and its Chairman for about 7yrs

I was approached in 1972, by a magistrate, to join the Magistrates Bench but did not have time available, but I was asked again in 1991 and following the extensive research, by the Lord Chancellors Department into ones background, was invited to join the Bench in 1992 and appointed to the Ashford & Tenterden Bench sitting at Ashford.

I have served the Bench for 25 years, as Court Chairman for the Criminal Adult Court, Confiscation Court, Family Court Judge, I also sat on appeals at the Crown Court. I have been Bench Chairman of the East Kent Bench Training and Development Committee.

Sadly I was retired from the Bench on attaining 70 yrs. old in May 2017.