Tributes have been paid to magistrate Malcolm Clague, who has retired after spending eight years serving on the bench.

Advocates gathered before the court started to honour to Mr Clague, who sat for the last time as he reached the age of 70.

Barry Swain, who spoke on behalf of the Attorney General’s office, wished Mr Clague good luck in his retirement and said: ’You have contributed greatly to the criminal justice service.’

Roger Kane also wished him the best for the future on behalf of the defence advocates.

Mr Clague, a retired surgeon, said: ’I’ve enjoyed the challenge of using my brain more than my hands over the last eight years.’

He was born in Douglas in 1948 and was brought up in Willaston with his three brothers and one sister, attending Murray’s Road School, Ballakermeen, and Douglas High School for Boys.

He went to medical school at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne with his twin brother and completed surgical training in 1981, spending a year working in Houston, Texas.

He returned to the island in 1997 as a consultant general surgeon with an interest in vascular and breast surgery after working as a consultant general surgeon at Newcastle General Hospital from 1982.

He retired from that position in 2010.

Mr Clague met his future wife, Nancy, who was studying agriculture, at a dance on his first night in Newcastle and married when his final year studying in medicine.

The couple have three children, John, who is a lieutenant commander in the Navy and lives in Cornwall, Simon, who lives in the island and works as a finance director and Katharine, who also lives on island and is a school teacher.

When asked how he became a magistrate, Mr Clague said: ’Magistrates used to be appointed from those well-known and respected in society solely on the recommendation of others. In recent times, those interested apply by responding to an advert in the press, be interviewed and if successful are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.

’I took the Oath of Office in Government House, alongside five other successful applicants, on January 18, 2010.

’I had been a medical witness on several occasions in courts in Newcastle and developed an interest in their workings.

’The day I retired as a surgeon I saw an advert and felt that it would be something that I could do, assisting the community in which I live and was brought up.

’Sittings varied from under an hour to a week or more. Nothing stands out as being particularly memorable, although my last sitting was my longest single day, going until 8pm.

’I will miss the camaraderie of those I have been involved with in court sittings throughout my time, the 30 or more magistrates that I have sat with on different occasions over the years, the clerk to the magistrates who runs the courts with the advocates, ushers, secretaries and provides invaluable legal advice when required.

’I enjoy having a busy life and still have plenty of things to occupy my time.

’I am chairman of the Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association which keeps me busy, particularly with its diamond jubilee coming up in 2019.

’I will also continue to enjoy looking after our property with seven acres of ground, enjoy my family and grandchildren, travel and play social golf often with my twin brother.’