PIONEERING magistrates' clerk and leading Rotarian Christopher Heap and has died aged 74 after he was taken ill after singing hymns in church.

Mr Heap, who died peacefully, first joined the staff of Blackburn Borough Magistrates' Clerk's office in 1949.

He later became the first president of the newly formed Duchy of Lancaster Justices Clerks Society and was the first Lancashire justices' clerks leader to come from the Blackburn court.

Mr Heap was assistant magistrates' clerk in Nottinghamshire, serving there until 1962. He won the Justices Clerks Society prize for 1961 for best mark in the exam on magistrates' courts practice. He was admitted a solicitor in March 1961 and then appointed clerk to the justices at Blackburn in October 1962.

Mr Heap attended Hoddlesden Church of England School and then Sudell Road Senior Boys' School, Darwen. He continued his education as a part-time student at Blackburn Technical College and later went to Nottingham University.

He was a founder member of Blackburn West Rotary Club and was treasurer of Holy Trinity Church, Blackburn.

He was president of the Duchy of Lancaster Justices Clerks Society from 1974-5. He was also adviser to Lancashire Magistrates' Court Committee and point training officer for justices in the county.

Steven Coombs, who succeeded Mr Heap as justices' clerk when he retired in June 1990, said: "Christopher was an exceptional leader, he was someone that you could rely on for support and care. He was a well loved and respected man by all the magistrates."

Mr Heap, who moved to the Isle of Man six years ago with his wife Ellen, had three daughters and six grandchildren.

His funeral took place on Thursday at St Mary's Church, Port St Mary, Isle of Man.