Judge gives final closing speech

Feb 2 2009 by Catherine Lillington, Birmingham Mail

A JUDGE packed out the benches and public gallery of a Birmingham courtroom for his final closing speech before taking retirement.

District Judge Mr Miles McColl was given his first appointment as a Stipendiary at the city courts, in 1994. The 62-year-old travelled from his home in Manchester for the farewell ceremony and dinner.

Mr McColl, who lived in Edgbaston for ten years, said: “I’ve always loved the law. “I went to London with my dad who said ‘what do you want to do today, Miles?’ and I said I wanted to go to the Old Bailey.”

Mr McColl was also the editor of the Family Law Journal for 25 years and has also sat in Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield.