Susan Thompson JP was the guest speaker at a recent meeting.

As chairman of Kidderminster magistrates bench, Mrs Thompson explained the nature of her work within the magistrates service, which is over 600 years old, but it was only after the 1920s that women were eligible to serve on the bench.

With the ethos "local justice for local people by local people" there are 28,000 magistrates in England and Wales. To qualify for this voluntary post, a magistrate must live and work within the relevant community.

Before concluding her presentation Mrs Thompson described the sentencing guidelines followed in a magistrates court, where 97 per cent of criminal cases often begin.

A question and answer session concluded the evening.

For further information regarding the club and its membership, contact secretary Stephanie Ainsley on 01562 632889.