Heartfelt tributes have been paid to the Hon Recorder of Chester, Judge Elgan Edwards, who died in his sleep following a long illness.

The 72-year-old who lived in Lea-by-Backford, passed away peacefully at the Countess of Chester Hospital early this morning (Thursday, January 28), having been on long term sick leave for more than a year.

Tributes have been flooding in for Judge Edwards, a married father who was the UK's longest serving circuit judge and presided over some of Chester’s most high profile cases.

Crown Court judge Elgan Edwards inside Chester Crown Court, court number 1
Judge Elgan Edwards inside court number one at Chester Crown Court

Judge Roger Dutton, who announced his colleague’s death to a packed Chester Crown Court this morning, told The Chronicle: “It’s terrible news. I’ve known him since I came to Chester in 1974. Most of my working days would begin having coffee with Elgan. It’s a real blow, he was a great man.

“He will be having a proper eulogy in the next few weeks at the court and I expect a very large number of people to attend. Elgan was very proud to be the longest serving circuit judge for 26 years, longer than any other.

'He will be missed enormously'

Judge Dutton added: “We are thinking of him as the man he was and the standards he set down to keep to. We will all aspire to them and in turn follow the example he set to us. He will be missed enormously by all of us. “

Barrister Peter Moss added: “The judiciary has lost a great judge, the bar has lost a great friend. He leaves behind a devoted and delightful family. He will be missed but fondly remembered.”

Others from the legal world have been paying tribute to Judge Edwards on Twitter, including Jonathan Duffy, who wrote: “HHJ Edwards QC was one of the fairest and finest judges before whom I have appeared. He will be sadly missed. May he R.I.P.”

Professor Tim Wheeler, vice-chancellor of the University of Chester, where Judge Edwards sat on the governing board, said: “The university is deeply saddened by the untimely death of Judge Elgan Edwards.

"He has been an outstanding governor over the last decade and brought a penetrating intellect, good judgement and boundless enthusiasm, tempered by his inimitable dry humour, to the University Council’s deliberations.

"He was pivotal in establishing the university’s Law School and regularly engaged with students on finer matters of legal procedures and judgements, welcoming students to the Crown Court on a regular basis.

“There is a great sense of loss and the university offers its condolences and deepest sympathy to his wife and two children.”

And Cheshire Constabulary Chief Constable Simon Byrne: “It is with real sadness we have heard of the death of Judge Elgan Edwards. The county will miss the unswerving efforts from Elgan to discharge the interests of justice over many years.

"Our thoughts now are with his family and friends and remembering a man who should be proud of his legacy.”

Mr Justice Turner and Mr Justice William Davis, the two presiding judges for the northern circuit of the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary knew Judge Edwards well and issued their own tribute to him.

They said today in a statement: "HH Judge Elgan Edwards served as a full time judge for over 25 years. Over that time he presided with huge distinction over many of the most serious cases to be tried in the Crown Court at Chester.

"He personified the all the aspects of the very best judges - an innate sense of fairness, a capacity for clear thinking and genuine compassion. He also had fortitude in abundance, something he displayed throughout his life but most especially in his last months and days. Elgan (as he was universally known) will be missed hugely by all those concerned with criminal justice in Cheshire.

"We shall miss him as a source of wise counsel in what are difficult times for the justice system generally."