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A
tough judge with a tough reputation, he is more concerned
for the victim than the criminal; a judge whose sentences
are often reduced by the Court of Appeal, but a judge
who is regularly applauded for his outspoken radical views
by the Press and the public.
Narvel
Annable explores the fascinating story of his former teacher
who has spanned the social divide from a Yorkshire coal
mining background to being listed in Who's Who and Debrett's
People of Today and is now described as legendary in the
local Press. This is an extraordinary lifetime in which
praise is matched with criticism, as we follow the twists
and turns of the last six decades to see Keith Matthewman,
the student, the Scout, the memorable and creative schoolmaster,
the enthusiastic left-wing politician, the film maker,
the articulate barrister and the stern judge who - "
... had to deal with the raw end of life, the mad, bad
and desperate - a parade of failed humanity ... rapes,
incest, violence, dangerous driving, arson .."
Judge
Matthewman went on to become a broadcaster, a controversial
television personality, strident critic of the Criminal
Justice System and latterly the President of the Friends
of the Galleries of Justice Museum in Nottingham.
In
1992 he featured in Central TV's award-winning documentary
Caution - Our Hands Are Tied and a year later he was the
first British judge to have a regular slot on Crime Stalker.
Readers
will also find, imaginatively interwoven in this life-span,
an enjoyable and informative history, brought to life
by photographs, documents and newspaper extracts which
will re-kindle local memories.
This
book takes you through the years of the Second World War
in Chilwell, the 1950's in Long Eaton Grammar School and
then on to University College London. The 1960's will
see shop-keeping at Aldercar, school-teaching and politics
in Heanor, leading on to Rolls Royce in Derby and ending
up with many examples from the riveting daily drama of
lives in crisis in the Nottingham law courts. This work
of 271 pages is supported by forewords from -
The
Rt. Hon. Geoffrey Hoon MP the Secretary of State for Defence
and
Lord Bach of Lutterworth
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