A PARISH councillor from Stoke Climsland has been awarded for 20 years' service as a magistrate.

Cllr Sue Tudor was one of three magistrates awarded a certificate for long service at Truro Crown Court by Lady Mary Holborow (pictured), retiring Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall.

Mrs Tudor was sworn in as a JP in September 1991 and sat at Stoke on Trent Magistrates' Courts until 2003, when she transferred to sit on the East Cornwall bench. 

'When I applied to be a magistrate, it was the first time the 'job' of a magistrate was advertised,' she recalled. 'At that time they were looking specifically for ladies under 50 who were involved with the community and lived or worked within Stoke on Trent and had a good working knowledge of the area and its people. I fortunately ticked all those boxes at that time.'

Mrs Tudor said when she started the older lady magistrates always wore hats when in court.

'You learned the ropes as you went along, and it was six years before you were allowed to take the chair. These days you can train to take the chair after two years, and the ladies do not wear hats.'

Since moving to Cornwall in 2000 with her husband Tony, Sue's community service has extended far beyond the courtroom. 

She said: 'I am at present a parish councillor for Stoke Climsland, a union representative and branch chairman for USDAW (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers), a landlady for Duchy College, an active WI member and —although some would say I should have retired years ago — I still work one day a week for Tesco in Callington. 

The couple also have two daughters, five grand daughters, and one great grandson, 'who keep me busy', she added.

'Looking back it has been an interesting and sometimes challenging 20 years, but I have been proud to serve my community in my role as justice of the peace and hope to continue to do so for many years to come,' she said.