AFFECTIONATE tributes have been paid to one of Liverpool's best known- and most feared judges.

Judge William Rayley Wickham - who lived in Birkenhead and sat at Liverpool Crown Court for many years - was nicknamed 'Whack'em Wickham' and passed away last month aged 90.

At a crowded ceremony in the very courtroom where he sat for the last five years of his judicial career as the city's most senior judge, the Honorary Recorder, he was fondly remembered by colleagues.

His no-nonsense judicial style is legend and he was the one judge many defendants did not want to appear before as they knew any attempts to avoid justice would be met with short shrift.

Giving the eulogy Sir David Clarke, who succeeded Judge Wickham, known to his colleagues as Bill, said that his friend's most obvious professional characteristic was his directness and he expected the same of others.

"His energy and enthusiasm was boundless and his throughput of work was phenomenal.

"He never wasted words and did not appreciate others who did.

"He had high standards and expected them of others. He was always brisk and direct but never pompous".

Sir David described Judge Wickham  as "a stern sentencer" but pointed out that reflected the seriousness of the cases he tried, adding: "Those convicted would received their just desserts and the Court of Appeal generally upheld his sentencing".

Judge Wickham joined chambers in Liverpool’s Water Street after working for the Colonial Office in Aden and Tanganikya and built up a thriving criminal practice until his appointment as a circuit judge in 1975.

After initially sitting in the Midlands and Manchester he transferred to Liverpool and in the early days often sat at court sessions above Bromborough Police Station.

He became Liverpool’s Honorary Recorder in 1992 a post he held until his retirement.

He had a loyal band of followers - nicknamed 'The Wickham Wanderers', comprising about a dozen retired men - who regularly sat in his courtroom - into which he bounded each day - and gave their tacit approval to his sentencing.

Judge Wickham, a father-of-three, was a great believer in the jury system saying at the time of his retirement: "The overwhelming advantage is the decision is made by ordinary people who come in from outside the system".

Although known for not always agreeing with not guilty verdicts - demonstrated by snapped pencils - he added: "You have to accept there will be verdicts that are difficult to understand".

Paying tribute on behalf of the Bar, Anthony Hayton, QC, remarked: "He will be remembered and remembered for a long time".

At the end of the ceremony Judge Wickham's widow Elizabeth spoke of the happy life together.

She said: "It is very comforting to know he was held in such high esteem".

Judge Wickham, who had seven grandchildren, enjoyed walking, gardening and opera, last returned to the QE11 courts in Derby Square, Liverpool for a celebratory lunch with the judges to mark his 90th birthday last September.