City's outgoing top judge quips how he's outlasted 36…

City's outgoing top judge quips how he's outlasted 36 Nottingham Forest managers

Nottingham's outgoing top judge has joked that his 30 years working in the city's legal system has seen him outlast 36 Forest managers. "Hugely respected, fair and courteous" Gregory Dickinson QC made the quip at a ceremony at Nottingham Crown Court to commemorate his retirement.

The room was packed with barristers and staff and a video-link saw some of the countries most respected high court judges log on to wish him well as he bows down from his role. It heard how during that time he has, "led this court with passion, enormous skill and deep dedication to the criminal justice system".

Judge Dickinson said: "For 30 years I have loved the people involved in the justice system here. There's a fantastic spirit and that revolutionary spirit that's always part of Nottingham folk.

"It is the only role I have ever wanted and it has been such a privilege. In the time I have been here, Nottingham Forest have had 36 managers, luckily it's not so easy to sack resident judges. I care passionately about the work that you do.

"I set the tone but the quality and success comes from all of you. I would like to thank you for your amazing work and your fabulous, unstinting support."

The valedictory - as the farewell ceremony is called - heard how Judge Dickinson began his law career in 1981, initially working in Leicester. He came to work in Nottingham in 1992 at the firm No.1 High Pavement chambers, was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 2002, became a circuit judge in 201,2 and for the last four years has been the Honorary Recorder of Nottingham - making him the city's top judge.

Judge Dickinson is also an Honorary Professor at Nottingham Law School at Nottingham Trent University and has overseen the most serious cases to come through the courts including murders, manslaughters, rapes and offences of extreme violence, "with trademark skill, passion and fairness". Paying tribute to him at the valedictory, Nottingham-based solcitor Digby Johnson told how Judge Dickinson was instrumental in ensuring the courts still ran during the 2020 lockdown.

He said: "The mark of an absolutely superb resident judge is what happens when something goes wrong and on March 23, 2020, something went very wrong. He galvanised the team around him and the truly exceptional court staff here. Cometh the hour, cometh the man."

Nottingham barrister Balraj 'Baz' Bhatia QC also spoke in glowing terms at the ceremony. He said: "Greg has integrity, decency and fairness and he is a role model for many of us here.

"I asked Judge (Steven) Coupland about Greg's lapsed Catholic background and he told me 'priests go to him for confession'."

A new Honorary Recorder of Nottingham, who will take over from Judge Dickinson, is yet to be announced.