IT WAS the first event of its kind for 11 years – and it was the first to ever be held online.

Winchester City Council has formally appointed a new honorary recorder to take the role of the retiring Judge Keith Cutler.

Introducing the proceedings, leader Cllr Lucille Thompson detailed the career of Judge Angela Morris, 58, who will start in the post on January 29.

She said: "Her honour was called to the bar in 1984 and has a very distinguished background, serving as a barrister for 20 years.

"On moving to Hampshire in 2004 she was appointed to the bench in 2010 and has, for the past 10 years, been resident judge at Reading Crown Court.

"For the last eight of those, she was the diversity and liaison judge. She has been at the forefront of introducing many innovative schemes such as the digital case system, and indeed she has been mentioned in the Lord Chief Justice's annual report to parliament."

Cllr Thompson added that in the 1700s, the Recorder of Winchester lived at Abbey House, which is now the official residence of the Mayor.

She joked that the council would "consider any reasonable offers" on the property, to which Mayor Cllr Patrick Cunningham said that "the stocks would be waiting".

Judge Morris then addressed the meeting: "I knew when I made the application for this job, what an amazing opportunity it was going to be. But I had no idea whatsoever of the extraordinary and many perks, absent of the stocks, Mr Mayor, of course.

"I'm very fortunate indeed to be following in the footsteps of such an eminent, senior judge as Keith Cutler, and in taking on the responsibility of this incredible role at this tumultuous time, I would like to reassure you that the strong partnership which has been forged between Winchester City Council and the judiciary at Winchester Combined Court will remain front and centre as an important part of my duty to the community, and to you."

Called to the Bar in July 1972, Judge Cutler became a judge in 1996 and was later appointed as the resident judge for Salisbury in 2003 before the court amalgamated with Winchester in 2009.

For the last time as Recorder of Winchester, he said to the council: "Throughout my time as the Recorder of Winchester, you have all been so kind, so generous, and so much fun – you've been very entertaining although perhaps more so than you should have been!

"But the contact between the city council and the law courts has been invaluable and one which I have been striving very hard to keep maintained in proposer.

"I have served as Recorder with enormous pride. It is a prestigious title and it's also meant I've had the advantage of entertaining mayors and other visitors and dignitaries.

"Thank you all."