Tributes were paid last night to a Worcestershire judge who died after his car was swept away by flood waters.
District Judge Eric Dickinson had called his wife Gill just minutes before his Volvo V70 was overwhelmed by water as he attempted to drive across a ford at Bow Brook, near Pershore, on Monday.
The Lancashire-born 68-year-old, who lived in Leigh and presided in county courts across the Midlands for more than 20 years, was found by police divers in his submerged car on Tuesday evening. A former solicitor with Harrison Clarke of Worcester, Judge Dickinson had always maintained he would work for as long as he could. Judges retire at 72.
Worcester Crown and County Court manager, Janet Lloyd, said: "We are shocked and saddened . He will be very sadly missed in a personal and professional capacity. Our heartfelt thoughts and sympathies are with his family at this time."
Judge Dickinson was called to the Bar in November 1962 and was appointed as a District Judge in 1983, having been appointed as a Deputy District Judge in 1970.
He was also a stalwart of St Andrew's Methodist Church, Worcester, where he was a well-known lay-preacher. The Rev Anne Smith said: "He was a highly valued local preacher and dedicated church worker who will be greatly missed, not only in the church but in the wider community for his kindness, generosity and good humour."
Outside the law, he was a member of the Rotary Club of Worcester Severn, Worcestershire County Cricket Club, and Leigh Parish Council.
He was a keen member of the Lychgate Players, an amateur dramatic group, but his main interest was classical music and he was twice secretary of the Three Choirs Festival.
Judge Dickinson had been a chairman of the South Worcestershire Victim Support scheme and his widow was its co-ordinator .
William Dickinson, his eldest son, said: "He was a very popular man with a good sense of humour.
"He was well known for the way in which he was able to diffuse tense situations in court between opposite parties using humour and pathos while maintaining everyone's dignity.
"Away from his legal work, he never had any spare time because of his involvement in family, Rotary, the church and other interests. He always gave his time unselfishly to other people."
Judge Dickinson leaves a widow Gill, sons William and Mark, daughter Emma and six grandchildren.
