HEREFORD’S recently retired chief steward, who had a long association with the county, has died.

Lord Slynn of Hadley, who will be shortly replaced by the Lord Temple-Morris of Llandaff and Leominster, has died at the age of 79 after a long and successful legal career.

In 1971 Lord Slynn, then Gordon Slynn and a former treasury barrister, was sworn in as the 11th recorder of Hereford.

With the demise of the county’s quarter sessions and its replacement with the new crown court, he became the city’s honorary recorder.

He also served as deputy chief steward and was knighted in 1976.

In February 1979, Councillor David Short, the city’s mayor, handed over an illuminated scroll to the then Sir Gordon Short when he became chief steward.

After his appointment, he told the Hereford Times he valued his connection with the city, where he had met warmth and friendship.

He was appointed as a law lord in 1991 and became a life peer in 1992. Lord Slynn then became a honorary freeman of the city of Hereford in 1997.

A year later he hit the headlines when he backed the case for the non-prosecution of General Augusto Pinochet.

He cast the first vote when five House of Lords judges decided the former Chilean dictator did not have diplomatic immunity in this country during his visit to Britain.

Lord Slynn died on Tuesday, April 7.

Coincidentally, Lord Temple- Morris, who will be installed as his successor on May 10, was taught by Lord Slynn while he was a student at Cambridge University.

Lord Carlile of Berriew and His Honour Judge Toby Hooper QC will be installed as deputy chief steward and honorary recorder respectively at the same time.

Lord Carlile said: “I regard Lord Slynn as a great enthusiast of Hereford and one of the finest lawyers of the last 100 years.”