Warm tributes were paid to mark the retirement of Judge Philip Curl, who said it had been his 'good fortune' to live and work in Norfolk, a county which he said was 'deeply in his 'DNA,' .

Judges, barristers and court staff packed into a courtroom at Norwich Crown Court to wish Judge Curl a happy retirement and said the fact he was no longer sitting as a judge would be a sad loss to the judiciary.

After a successful career at the Norwich Bar, Judge Curl was made an assistant Recorder in 1991 and a Recorder in 1995. He was appointed to the Circuit Bench in 1996.

He became a designated family judge for Norfolk in 1998, a leadership role he performed for 10 years and he was appointed a deputy High Court judge. He also sat as a criminal judge, and was respected for his grip of legal principles.

Judge Curl thanked everyone for their well wishes and paid tribute to the happy and efficient court staff at Norwich who he said were a 'dedicated and cheerful' team.

Judge Jeremy Richards said his retirement would mean the loss of a judge of immense experience and good sense and described him as a judge who treated everyone with 'courtesy and respect.'

'He is kind and patient with everyone in court and his confident and calm approach is the well-oiled machine of pure professionalism.

Judge Richards said: 'He is always kind and considerate treating all the same.'

He added: 'There is not a person in this building who will not miss Judge Curl. He has something to say to everyone and everyone but everyone is treated with courtesy and respect.'

He added: 'I hope he has the happiest of long retirements.'