Mal's Memories (From Penarth Times)

Mal's Memories

DO YOU remember Mr Cliff Prothero, JP?

He is another giant from Penarth's past, and, like Mr Bill Jeffcott, of whom I have written previously, a man who made an enormous impression on me in my early days as a journalist.

Mr Prothero was chairman of the bench at the old Penarth Magistrates' Court for many years, and an imposing figure he was.

No-one took any liberties when Mr Prothero was on the bench.

He was a stickler for protocol and everyone knew it.

He insisted on due and proper respect - not for himself, but to uphold the dignity of the court.

He had a reputation, perhaps unjustly, for being particularly strict when it came to passing sentence on those who came up before him.

I have seen hard men blanche when they heard he was presiding on the day they were appearing in court, and it was not unknown for wrong-doers to beg their solicitors to seek an adjournment until another day when they hoped the rota would povide them with a more lenient chairman.

Even experienced police officers stood a little straighter and took a little more care when they gave evidence in Mr Prothero's court.

But he was always sympathetic to witnesses, especially victims, who found appearing in court somewhat of an ordeal, and he did his best to put them at ease.

Despite Mr Prothero's formidable reputation, he and his wife, Mrs Vi Prothero, also a JP, were the kindest of people.

When, as a humble reporter, I woke in Llandough Hospital with life-threatening peritonitis after an emergency appendix operation, they were the first people at my bedside.

Sadly Mr and Mrs Prothero are no longer with us, but they gave sterling service to this town, and I admired them greatly.

* Malcolm Davies is a former editor of the Penarth Times. Mal's Memories are on the Penarth Times website: www.thisispenarth.co.uk and you can find the early columns on Mal's site at www.communigate.co.uk/wales/mdav24/index. phtml