A FORMER Dover College student who went on to become a civil judge has died.

Judge William Poulton, who was 65, was the designated civil judge for the county and regularly sat at Canterbury County Court. He lived at Norton, near Faversham.

Members of the Kent Bar, fellow judges and court staff as well as Judge Poulton's family were at Canterbury Crown Court to hear resident Judge Anthony Webb lead the tributes.

Judge Poulton attended Dover College followed by New College, Oxford, where, after graduation, he lectured in law. He was called to the Bar in 1965 and practised first in the chancery courts then was appointed a circuit judge in 1994, sitting first in Sussex but returning to sit in Kent.

He adjudicated in a number of cases that attracted national publicity including one involving disgraced doctor Clifford Ayling.

Judge Webb said: "The strength of his intellect was apparent in the clarity of his thoughts and the reasoning of his judgements.

"He looked for, and expected, the highest standards from those who appeared professionally before him but was not a person of antiquated ideas."

Judge Poulton was a stalwart supporter of the annual cricket match between the Kent Bar and Kent solicitors, which he regularly umpired. He leaves a widow and two daughters.