A CENTURY in the service of justice was recognised on February 12, when four of the county's former leading magistrates attended a meeting of the Herefordshire bench at the Three Counties Hotel.

Ivor Brown, Angus Brymer, Greta Pennington and Inger Smith were among six magistrates retiring after long distinguished careers.

Presenting them with inscribed paperweights bench chairman Dr Ian Hine praised the skilled and conscientious way they had discharged their duties over a total of 100 years, saying they had earned the respect of their colleagues and deserved the gratitude of the whole community for the work they had done.