Meeting 24/02/2016

A senior Rhyl-based lawyer has lamented the dramatic demise in the local administration of justice that could soon see the number of magistrates courts reduced to an unprecedented four, covering the whole of North Wales. In a talk at Faenol Fawr to members on his 41 years as a provincial solicitor following his graduation at Aberyswyth University, past President Gareth Wynne Jones said it was looking extremely likely that very soon only at Caernarfon, Llandudno, Mold and Wrexham would magistrates courts survive, in contrast to the six that regularly sat in Anglesey alone when he first entered the profession. “The laudable administration of local justice dates back to Tudor times and it is a sad day that after 400 years we are about to see that largely disappear,” he added. “We have gone from one extreme to another and had I know then what I know now, I would not have become a local solicitor. Most of what has changed has been for the worse, including not least the fact that legal aid has largely been done away with.” He was also concerned at the crippling impact of escalating student loans which left many newly-qualified professional graduates facing bills of up to £50,000 to be repaid which would severely erode the concept of universally available access to higher education for many people from poorer backgrounds. After recounting several notable and revealing experiences as a court-attending lawyer – a role he particularly enjoyed – and answering a number of questions from members, the speaker was warmly thanked by President Mike Parry for his most absorbing and thought-provoking talk. Treasurer John Williams urged members to let him have their sponsorship monies in support of the Roll Out the Barrel 10 mile charity walk from Rhyl to Prestatyn, successfully completed by the President and senior Vice president Rod Brocklehurst to mark Rotary International Day at the weekend.