A long-serving magistrate has retired from the bench after 24 years of service.

Jill Hamilton-Turner sat for the last time on Thursday as prosecution and defence advocates, as well as members of the judiciary gathered in the courtroom to pay tribute.

The chairman of the Isle of Man Magistrates’ Association, David Craine, led the accolades as he described Ms Hamilton-Turner’s caring nature and great intelligence, praising how she always delivered fair and thoughtful judgements.

Ms Hamilton-Turner’s mother was a justice of the peace (JP) in the island while her father was a justice of the peace in the UK. Her family moved to the island when she was six years old.

Ms Hamilton-Turner trained as a nurse and worked at Noble’s Hospital, then as a district nurse.

She served on the magistrates’ executive committee, which was responsible for training and was on the management committee at the Isle of Man Children’s Centre for 15 years.

Mr Craine said that she has always shown a keen interest in advising newly-appointed magistrates.

’On behalf of the magistrates, we thank you for your service.

’We will miss you,’ he said.

Advocate James Robinson from the Attorney General’s office paid tribute on behalf of the Isle of Man bar. Mr Robinson said that he had appeared in front of Ms Hamilton-Turner over many years, both as a prosecutor and defence advocate.

’I have always found you to be eminently fair and thoughtful,’ he said.

’We wish you all the best for the future and are very sad you are leaving.’ Ms Hamilton-Turner said that she found it hard to believe she had been sitting for 24 years and that she was appointed at the same time as fellow magistrates Pauline Cringle and Charles Fargher.

She paid tribute to Rosemary Penn, whom she described as her mentor in her early days. Describing the role, Ms Hamilton-Turner said: ’No two days are alike.

’I feel privileged to be a part of the justice system.’

She thanked the four clerks to the justice she had worked with -David Jones, John Needham, Stephen Tucker, and James Brooks - as well as clerk to the summary courts Zoe Cannell for her ’unfailing good humour’.

She continued: ’I will miss the company of my fellow magistrates.

’We have become good friends.

’I hope the newly appointed magistrates will find the work as interesting as I have done.’