TRIBUTES have been paid to a 'universally popular' Preston Crown Court judge who recently died after a long illness.

Judge Ronald Livesey QC, 66, was diagnosed with cancer some time ago before being taken ill in November.

He lived in the Southport area and sat nearly all his time at Preston where his death is seen as the loss of a very good friend to the court and the circuit. His last sittings were in Cyprus where he served as a senior judge to the sovereign base area.

His wife and family attended the ceremony at Ringway attended by judges, some of them from the High Court, as well as barristers and court staff.

Leading the tributes, the Recorder of Preston, Judge Peter Openshaw QC, said "As a judge he was fair, courteous, knowledgable, wise, humane and understanding. He had that highly prized judicial attribute -- a safe pair of hands.

"Ronnie was unfailingly friendly and helpful to the staff, to counsel who appeared in front of him and indeed to young Recorders sitting here for the first time.

"He was universally popular".

The son of a solicitor, he did national service with the Marines before teaching in the Oxford area where he met his wife Jane.

A great sportsman, he was excellent at both football and rugby. He turned out for the Waterloo first 15.

He took up golf and became captain of Royal Birkdale in 1978.