Solicitor Richard Hazell is retiring after 42 years at the Swindon-based Wiltshire Law Centre.
Friends and colleagues gathered for the celebration
Colleagues and friends gathered to pay tribute to him at a celebration in Sanford House.
Richard was one of the founding members of Wiltshire Law Centre, and has spent his many years there providing free legal advice and representation to the most vulnerable people in Swindon and Wiltshire.
One friend and colleague said: "Richard has saved literally thousands of people from losing their homes and facing homelessness.
"He’s fought against homeless decisions to secure those on the streets a safe home of their own and taken on the Department of Work and Pensions when they’ve made unjust decisions which impoverish those already struggling.
"Richard has the greatest empathy and shows great strength when dealing with tragic and heart-breaking cases. Legal aid cuts have caused our firm great difficulty, but Richard continues to give his heart and soul to the Law Centre and ensure that we can continue to provide our legal services to alleviate poverty and disadvantage.
"He is a true champion for social justice. Richard has earned the respect and admiration of all who have had the honour of working with him and his tireless efforts have left an indelible mark on our community."
Swindon community poet Tony Hillier commemorated Richard's retirement in verse:
Richard: Vox Populi
Ab initio it’s an open and shut case that
backroom worker, spotlight shy,
loving Swindon, Richard the Law
beavered away, above the common law
into our specialised area of Community Law
Legal rights assaulted?: Richard was there
Homeless?: Richard was there
Debt issues?: Call Richard
Townwide Advice Points? : thank Richard
All rights preserved
Swindon’s own Human Rights Lawyer;
served us all as individuals, as agencies
with passion and compassion
The compos mentis “Go to” Bloke
This Bloke likes folk; He likes folk music
Likes folk dance, supports Swindon Town:
likes allotments, digging and The Diggers,
likes a natter and a pint
sometimes enjoys innuendo
rarely took the fifth: never banged to rights
Richard you helped us thread together
the voluntary and community sector
to be as strong as it could be
in the thriving years of Eighties and Nineties
in the Austerity challenge years.
Richard you never missed a meeting
never missed a trick
bailed us all out when needed
Richard the Law The letter of the law
The spirit of Community Law.
Richard, Sine qua non: without which nothing
Richard, bona fide
May your onwards journey
also be safe, be legal, be fruitful, be fun.
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