A LONG-serving lawyer who campaigned to keep Bolton Magistrates Court open is retiring from wellknown legal firm Russell and Russell after 37 years.

Alan Walsh is stepping down from the town centre practice as senior partner, but will continue in his role as deputy coroner.

One of the highlights of his career was helping win the campaign to retain local justice in the town in 2001 when the magistrates courts was threatened with closure.

Mr Walsh, who lives in Heaton, was the town’s first duty solicitor in January 1, 1986, and he helped develop the firm’s criminal department.

He said: “I have been involved in all sorts of things over the years and I am particularly proud of helping keep local justice in Bolton.

“If the magistrates court in Bolton had closed and cases transferred to Salford or Bury it would have been totally unacceptable for a town the size of Bolton not to have its own local court.”

In 2001 he was appointed assistant deputy coroner for Manchester West covering Bolton, Salford, Wigan and Leigh, becoming deputy in 2003.

Mr Walsh added: “Now in retirement I will continue to serve as deputy coroner which I find satisfying as you are helping people suffering from grief find out how their loved ones died.”

Over the years Mr Walsh has been involved in many projects, having been president of Bolton Junior Chamber of Commerce, chairman of Bolton-le-Moors Round Table and he served on the original fund raising committee of Bolton Hospice.

He also assisted in the formation of Vision Aid, a registered charity to assist visually impaired children. In 2002 Mr Walsh was president of the Bolton Incorporated Law Society and in his presidential year the society’s first charity ball raised £7,500 for the coronary care unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

He was involved in the licensing of The Reebok Stadium when it was built in 1997 and he has also acted for The Lawn Tennis Association and The Horserace Betting Levy Board over the years.

Born in Bolton, Mr Walsh attended Bolton County Grammar School, later graduating from the University of Sheffield.

He joined Russell and Russell in 1973 as an articled clerk to Tom Taylor, senior partner of the firm at the time.

Mr Walsh, aged 59, is married with two daughters, one of whom is a solicitor with Russell and Russell.

Now he plans to travel, play golf and watch both cricket and Bolton Wanderers.