SWINDON Crown Court's former resident judge Mark Dyer has finally hung up his wig and gown after 26 years on the bench.

Speaking before a packed crown court the judge, who presided over justice in the town for 14 years, gave special thanks to the staff at the combined court centre on Islington Street.

And he also spoke out about proposals by the Lord Chancellor to get rid of the wig and gown for barristers and judges in crown court hearings.

Although the 73-year-old officially retired as a crown court judge in June 2001, he has continued to sit on a temporary basis until this week.

Speaking on his last full day he said he said he was grateful for being treated "with great kindness" by everyone at Swindon and Bristol.

He told a packed crown court: "I have a great admiration for the Bristol Bar and the whole circuit, and the helpful and kind way I have been treated by staff.

"In my view the staff at Swindon Crown Court cannot be surpassed. I have never heard a word of complaint about staff from visiting judges or recorders.

"All of my career I have relished the fact that every working day I have worn a wig.

"In the 20th and now 21st century it may seem strange that something which seemed outdated in the 18th century is still going on. Whether it will last the career of the bright young ones I see I don't know, but I hope it will.

"I found it very useful as a disguise, especially leaving some of the London courts with the fierce demeanour of some of the prisoners where he and friends would not greet me leaving court."

His views come a week after a consultation was started by the Lord Chancellor's office into whether wigs should stay.

Born in India, Mr Dyer was educated at Ampleforth College before reading law at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating in 1952.

In between he served as a 2nd lieutenant with the Royal Scots Greys in 1948/9 and was a Captain in the Westminster Dragoons Territorial Army from 1950 to 1958.

He married in 1953 and has two daughters.

His career in the law began the same year when he was called to the Bar by Middle Temple.

Appointed as a circuit judge in 1977, Mr Dyer served first Bristol for five years and then Swindon as resident judge for 14 years.

From 1981 to 1996 he was also liaison judge for Wiltshire and the honorary recorder for Devizes, 1988-1996.

He was appointed a senior circuit judge in 1996 and honorary recorder of Bristol, making him the resident judge at Bristol with responsibility for criminal trials of every class including murder.

Although he has retired as a judge he still sits on the parole board.

Chris Jervis, speaking for the Bar, said: "We the Bar have derived great pleasure from appearing before your honour."