TRIBUTES have been paid to former Master of the Rolls Lord Donaldson of Lymington who unexpectedly died at his home in Westfield Road on Wednesday, August 31 at the age of 84.

Lord Donaldson was Master of the Rolls, one of the three most senior judges in England and Wales, between 1982 and 1992.

But in Lymington he was best known for his presidency of the League of Friends of Lymington Hospital from 1998.

Former Friends' chairman Heather Waterstone said: "I was very saddened to hear this morning of Lord Donaldson's death.

"He and his wife Mary instantly became involved in our work. His legal experience was invaluable in the preparation of our new constitution and board of trustees. He was a tower of strength in our negotiations with the NHS for our new Lymington Hospital.

"I shall miss him as a friend."

Another former chairman, Robert Jackson, was also shocked and saddened to learn of his death.

"He was president of the League of Friends right up to his death. He was a very active president and chaired the Annual General Meeting in July in St Thomas Church Hall," he said.

Also in July, Lord Donaldson had spoken out against politicians who had called on the judiciary not to oppose new anti-terrorism laws.

Lord Donaldson's response was: "It is the job of the judges to ensure that the government of the day does not exceed its powers, which is a permanent desire of all governments."

As Mr Justice Donaldson he presided at the trial of the Maguire Seven. In 1990 an inquiry into the injustice suffered by the Maguires criticised him for failing to appreciate new evidence and also allowing inadmissible evidence to be presented to the jury.

He was a reformer. As head of the civil division he cut backlogs, reduced timewasting, introduced computerisation and insisted judgements were provided to court reporters.

As a House of Lords Crossbencher he backed the hunt campaigners' legal action over the way the Hunting Bill was forced onto the statute books.

The son of a gynaecologist he was educated at Charterhouse and Trinity College, Cambridge. He served with the Guards Armoured Divisional Signals in 1942/45 during the Second World War.

His wife died in October 2003.

He leaves three children, Michael, Margaret-Ann and Jennifer, and seven grandchildren.

First published: September 2, 2005